'WARRIORS' EYE SEMI-FINAL SPOT
This Country’s Senior National Footballers are one victory away from entering the last four surviving teams at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. And unlike their three previous matches which included the unforgettable 4-4 draw with Mexico in the Group C decider last Wednesday in Charlotte, tomorrow’s quarter final clash with Panama is set to be their most important assignment yet.
The stage is set at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for a gripping contest. Two well poised teams, the “Soca Warriors” on an unstoppable drive thus far and the 2013 beaten finalists that are definitely an outfit not to underestimate.
T&T had a full session on Saturday morning before a scheduled walk through at MetLife later in the day. Hart used part of the session to work on the team shape and finishing as well as penalty takes.
Hart is vastly experienced at the Gold Cup, being the only coach alongside USA’s Bruce Arena to reach the quarter final stage on four occasions (2007 and 2009 including a semi final with Canada and 2013 and 2015 with T&T).
He is also aware that while Panama are yet to qualify for a World Cup Finals, they are accustomed to the Gold Cup big stage, losing the 2013 Final to the US and reaching the semi finals in 2011.
T&T and Panama have met once before at the Gold Cup, in 2005 where both teams drew 2-2. T&T got goals from Marvin Andrews and Cornell Glen. Kenwyne Jones is the only surviving member from that squad while Panama’s Luis Tejada who netted a double in that match, is also in the current Panama team.
“For me they are the best team that really was in that group (current Gold Cup) in the sense that for me, they were unfortunate. They should have come away with a result in that US game,” Hart told TTFA Media after a morning session at the New York Jets Training Facility on Saturday morning.
“They are a team that are completely in balance and by that I mean is that it’s more or less the same team that played in the last Gold Cup final and been together for quite a while so they have a really good understanding of each other,” he said
Hart stressed on the importance of his team being able to maintain its form and focus on Sunday.
“The mood seems to be good. The main concern was the sort of emotional state of the players because that was an extremely emotional game (against Mexico) for the players, mentally and physically draining and the recovery times between games has not been ideal But so be it. We wanted to be in a quarter finals and we said we wanted to do one better which is to get into the semi final. But first things first, we have Panama tomorrow,” he said.
Satisfying for Hart is also the increase in start team selection options resulting from the way additional players have risen to the call during the tourney.
“There is competition for places and that’s the most important thing in a team. What was pleasing was the way that players stepped in ready to play, focused, totally energized and dynamic with a certain fighting spirit that brought about the draw. And I think if you are going to play international football and get results that is what is required,” Hart said.
All players are injury free and available with the exception of the injured goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams. T&T’s Keron Cummings and Sheldon Bateau are among the tournament’s top scorers with two goals each. USA’s Clint Dempsey and Mexican Oribe Peralta have three goals apiece.
Panama, which had two extra days to prepare for the contest. drew all of its first round matches with USA, Haiti and Honduras. Their head coach Hernan Dario Gomez said Panama will not change its style against T&T.
“Here the most important thing about this is that Panama maintains its style, it is composed, that we do not betray our style and that playing good football produces results as it has until now,” he said.
T&T’s match kicks off at 4:30pm while Mexico faces Costa Rica in the second match from 7:30pm.