It is some 16 years now since Trinidad and Tobago came away from the United States with a point from a World Cup qualifier.
Back then, in Torrance, California, a brave, low header from striker Marlon Morris and a deft piece of finishing by midfielder Hudson Charles earned T&T's "Strike Squad" a 1-1 draw and sparked a dream run which saw them only missing out on the 1990 World Cup in the Italy by a point. Ironically, it was the United States who months after the initial meeting, upset the script by edging T&T 1-0 in the final round of qualifying on November 1989 at National Stadium in Port of Spain.
Charles, the hero of that draw, has long put aside his playing boots. And like his team-mates, defenders Clayton Morris and Brian Williams, has now gone into coaching. In fact, Michael Maurice, the Trini goalkeeper that day, is now goal-keeping coach with the new bunch of Trinidad and Tobago footballers, now known as "The Warriors".
It's now left to "The Warriors" to keep alive the elusive dream of qualifying for a World Cup Finals, which many in T&T feel they will never see in their lifetime.
The modern Trinidad and Tobago football team hit the road today as they leave for East Hartford, Connecticut, USA, looking for a crucial point from their match against the Americans whom they meet at 8 p.m. on August 17 at Rentschler Field. And with three automatic qualifying places and a fourth available to CONCACAF through a play-off with a team from Asia , the new bunch have a real chance of qualifying.
After a no-start, a recent 0-0 draw with Costa Rica and a 2-0 victory over Panama, have moved T&T to fifth place of the six teams battling to qualify. Separated only on goal-difference from fourth-place, Trinidad and Tobago can at least go a long way to securing this spot should they whip closest rivals Guatemala when the Central Americans visit Port of Spain on September 3. And should Trinidad and Tobago leave the United States with at least point, even grabbing one of the three automatic qualifying places would seem within their grasp.
However, recent tame performances at the CONCACAF Gold Cup have taken some lustre off Trinidad and Tobago's latest qualifying performances, including a good showing in defeat to Mexico. But national coach Dutchman Leo Beenhakker has said all along that the Gold Cup games were being used to prepare for the real test that comes in World Cup qualifying.
While their record against the Americans is dismal at least, games between the United States and T&T have always been close, and never more than a two-goal margin have separated them. Trinidad and Tobago's best recent result was a 0-0 draw in Port of Spain during the 2001 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Generally, the Americans have beaten Trinidad and Tobago on better organisation and have come away with 1-0 victory which have come from set plays, or after lapses in concentration by the T&T team-usually late in games.
American coach Bruce Arena has several times been quoted as saying he expects unorthodox football when dealing with Trinidad and Tobago.
What Beenhakker has brought to Trinidad and Tobago football is structure and organisation. Now, Trinidad and Tobago are much harder to break down as a team. However, at the Gold Cup what Beenhakker's team missed was passion and confidence. Trinidad and Tobago played as if just going through the motion, while the likes of Panama and Honduras played the game as if they were at the World Cup Finals itself--committed to winning every ball and breaking through their opponents' rear guard.
Neither Panama, Honduras or Colombia were better teams than Trinidad and Tobago at the Gold Cup. But while Panama believed they could beat Colombia, and did so twice, Trinidad and Tobago played as if frightened by a "bigger name" and tried to defend for 90 minutes. Colombia looked vulnerable to both Honduras and Panama when the high ball was played across their penalty area, but because T&T never went forward, the South Americans were rarely tested. Whether by design or circumstance, it was a flawed plan. To defend and then hit the opponent on the counter-attack is one thing, but to defend for an entire match is foolishness. We didn't do it against Mexico, we didn't do it against Colombia and we are hardly likely to do it against the Americans.
Like Panama, Trinidad and Tobago must approach the Americans as if they are worthy to be on the same field with a country whose team was not much better than us 16 years ago, but is now ranked highly in the world. As shown when going down 2-1 in Port of Spain on February 9, Trinidad and Tobago are capable of testing this American squad when playing positive football and going forward with pace.
At Rentschler Field , Trinidad and Tobago's "Warriors" need to work hard at keeping things tight on the defensive end, and must put the ball into the net when given opportunities to score. To do so, Stern John especially, must put the ball into the back of the net.
Commend John for producing in abundance over the years, and always being there when the likes of Dwight Yorke seemed to have abandoned national service for fickle reasons. But, John has not been producing of late. He owes both himself and Trinidad and Tobago something. Stern has to stop giving glaring looks to his team-mates when the ball is played a little away from him, and instead run down the bloody ball.
Stern also has to stop playing like a post-up man with his back to the defence and be prepared to work. John, has to go back to making lateral movements, running at the defence and most of all banging the ball into the back of the net. Against Honduras, Stern tried to cutely pass the ball through the goal-keeper and missed. Even as an El Dorado Senior Comprehensive schoolboy, Stern would have banged the ball into the net and scored. That is what Stern does best--bang the ball into the net.
After a good start to the campaign, particularly against the Americans, Densil Theobald did absolutely nothing at the Gold Cup. Both he and newcomer Chris Birchall need to find back their "fire" after a few flat performances. And now that Beenhakker knows what Silvio Spann can do, he has the option of using Aurtis Whittley either where he is at present playing or in a more attacking role. On any day when Birchall is not finding his feet, either Spann or Whittley are capable of playing an attacking midfield role.
Captain Yorke has not always measured up when playing for Trinidad and Tobago, and is only now showing the leadership role we hoped for him many years ago. It's a pity he has only discovered his leadership qualities when past his peak. But Yorke has proved himself a valuable asset since his return to international football and has to be at his very best against the Americans.
Carlos Edwards returns to the team after injury and he should also serve T&T well with his pace and trickery up the flank.
Now, Bertille St Clair might have been crucified had he played so many players out of position at the Gold Cup. Cornell Glen came on and was played at left midfield where, he hit every pass he made with his left feet to an opponent. Colin Samuel was played on the right, before final being turned over to his favourite left flank. Theobald and Whittley are always out of position, but that is probably more out of necessity than anything else.
But , let's hope that the shrewd and vastly experienced Beenhakker was really using the Gold Cup to experiment as he said and will now put it all together against the American, or more importantly Guatemala. Beenhakker has already proven his worth by restructuring a tottering outfit. A point, or even a great performance against the USA, will be a great testimony to the fact that he could take us all the way on the road to Germany.