He admits that the penalty miss in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals still enters his mind on occasions but it’s not a mishap that will deter Daneil Cyrus from breaking down opponents like Panama in what promises to be an intriguing Word Cup campaign coming up for the “Soca Warriors.”
“Of course it’s still on my mind from time to time and it allowed Panama to go through but it does not hold me back. It is not something that will worry me before I take the field against them tomorrow,” Cyrus said yesterday in Panama City.
“These are things that make you stronger as a player and it teaches you valuable lessons as a player or an athlete.”
The Tobago-born former national youth team forward turned defender is quietly confident of the team’s chances in today’s outing.
“I don’t think they are a better team than us. They will be tough at home but we have showed we can play under pressure and keep ourselves in matches like we did against Mexico. And tough games away from home are what we need as we try to get ready for the World Cup qualifiers. I’m not afraid or worried. I think our team has what it takes to be strong and to advance.
“We will take the preparations seriously and hopefully the team will continue to improve in order to put up a strong challenge for World Cup qualification.”
Cyrus will return with the T&T team tomorrow ahead of Tuesday’s International friendly with Nicaragua at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo from 7 pm. T&T opens its CONCACAF World Cup semi-final round campaign away to Guatemala on November 13 before hosting the United States on November 17.