United States coach Jurgen Klinsman expects his team to be up against a very competitive Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors when the teams meet for their second round World Cup qualifying match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, from 7.36 tonight.
The Soca Warriors will be brimming with confidence following their away victory and after their final preparation late yesterday evening, coach Stephen Hart noted that all his players were in good health and were ready to take on the Americans.
“Everyone’s healthy and that’s a big thing for us this time. We have switched our focus to tomorrow’s match and our prepaprations were specific to that over the past few sessions.”
The Warriors can expect a sea of red at the Stadium tonight as TTFA officials revealed yesterday that tickets for the covered stands were all sold out while there were just a few remaining for the uncovered area. The local team will be looking to level the playing field with the Americans, having won just three of the nine matches played at the Stadium since 1982.
All nine previous matches have been decided by a goal or less, with the most infamous being the November 19, 1989 0-1 loss which earned the Americans a place in the Italy finals of 1990, when T&T needed just a draw to reach the World Cup finals for the first time.
Klinsman said yesterday that his players respected the T&T team. “They’re a good team, but our team is good as well. We want to come here and show them that we’re able to get three points or at least a tie and move on out of our group
“The fact they got a win in Guatemala City is huge for them,” said Klinsmann. “It gives them a good feeling going up against the United States. We have to be prepared for that – it’s one of the reasons we came to Trinidad & Tobago early. We flew right after our game all the way from St. Louis down to Port of Spain to be prepared. We’ll be prepared for the climate and we’ll be prepared for a very physical battle.”
While Klinsmann has never faced the Caribbean nation, he gave credit to their growth over the past year in bolstering the overall strength of the CONCACAF region.
“They played a very good Gold Cup and also had some good results in friendlies and other test games,” he said. “You have to give Trinidad & Tobago a lot of respect. They’re known for their physical game and known for being strong. A lot of their players play in the English Championship and obviously playing at home they have a lot of confidence, and they want to prove to the world that they’re a good team. Over the years they’ve improved themselves on the technical side and on the mental side as well.”
Like their manager, most of the current 23-man roster has never faced T&T, with only Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard and Michael Orozco seeing time against the Soca Warriors previously. While they’re somewhat of an unknown for most of the squad, Klinsmann says the team will be prepared for a stiff test.
USA vs T&T Matches in Port of Spain
Date Result Competition
March 21, 1982 2-1 L Friendly
Nov. 19, 1989 1-0 L WCQ
Nov. 18, 1990 0-0 D Friendly
Nov. 19, 1994 0-1 W Friendly
Nov. 24, 1996 1-0 L WCQ
Nov. 11, 2001 0-0 D WCQ
Feb. 9, 2005 2-1 L WCQ
Oct. 15, 2008 1-2 W WCQ
Sept. 9, 2009 1-0 L WCQ
T&T Squad: Jan-Michael Williams, Marvin Phillip, Daneil Cyrus, Justin Hoyte, Carlyle Mitchell, Sheldon Bateau, Radanfah Abu Bakr, Yohance Marshall, Mekell Williams, Aubrey David, Andre Boucaud, Khaleem Hyland, Kevan George, Neveal Hackshaw, Trevin Caesar, Cordell Cato, Joevin Jones, Lester Peltier, Keron Cummings, Kenwyne Jones (captain), Willis Plaza, Jonathan Glenn.
US Squad: Jozy Altidore, Ventura Alvarado, Kyle Beckerman, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Geoff Cameron, Mix Discerud, Alan Gordon, Brad Guzman, Bill Hamid, Tim Howard, Miguel Ibarra, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Matt Miazga, Jordan Morris, Darlington Nagbe, Michael Orozco, Brek Shea, Tim Ream, Bobby Wood, Deandre Yedflin, Gyasi Zardes.
RELATED NEWS
Hart not focusing on November memories
By JOEL BAILEY (NEWSDAY).
STEPHEN HART, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago football team, noted that he is not focusing on past November World Cup memories - the November 16, 2005 qualifier against Bahrain (TT won 1-0 to book a spot in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany) and November 19, 1989 against the United States (TT lost 1-0 as the US advanced to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy).
Hart made it clear that he is hopeful that the current national team will build their own legacy, as they get ready to face the US today, from 7.36 pm, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, in a 2018 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Zone Fourth Round Group C Qualifier.
At his pre-game media conference at the TTFA (TT Football Association) office, Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday, the TT coach said, “I try to keep that way from them. Those sort of things weigh on your shoulders especially (as) we’re not a country with a rich history of qualifying for a World Cup.
“I think at times, sometimes, we dwell too much on things like that.
It is great to celebrate it but this is their time. And I want them to seize their time and make the best of what they have, in this time.” He added, “those other guys did what they had to do, and, (for) that generation, it took them about 10 years to get there. This generation (has) just started.” Both teams will enter today’s game on the back of victories in their opening encounters on Friday, with Trinidad and Tobago defeating Guatemala 2-1 and the US thrashing St Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1.
But the focus in the group will be at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, with first place, ahead of the next set of matches on March 25, at stake.
Hart noted, “everything we have done has been leading up to World Cup qualification. The players know what to expect. The United States (are) probably one of those teams that can match us physically.
That’s a big part of their game. But they also have some high-quality technical players, so they can mix and match. It’s important for us to realise that and not get caught up in the emotion and the atmosphere.” Midfielders Kevan George, Joevin Jones and Cordell Cato play in the American Major League Soccer (MLS) and Hart was pleased with their development in top US league.
Hart said, “George is a young player and has a lot of potential.
And we had (Kevin) Molino, one of our top-scorers. He’s injured but the MLS, for us, has been good. I would encourage the young players to cut their teeth (there) if they can. I think the league has grown in leaps and bounds.” United States coach Juergen Klinsmann, in his pre-match interview yesterday, said, “we expect a very difficult game. (TT are) a good team, they’ve proven that throughout the entire year. They’ve done very well. They’ve won in Guatemala and they’re on a high.
“(I’ll) tell (my) players to be ready, be alert from the first second and go to the limit. These are the games where you get tested to the limit, and it’s going to be exciting.”