THERE were few real surprises when the historic first team to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the FIFA World Cup Finals was named yesterday by Dutch national coach Leo Beenhakker.
At a press conference held at the San Fernando Room, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Beenhakker announced a 24-man squad, which included most of the players who were in the squad that won 1-0 in Bahrain six months ago to secure this country's first ever trip to football's grand stage.
However, the Dutchman will drop one player before submitting his final 23-man squad to FIFA on May 15.
The lone omission from the historic squad which qualified in Bahrain is Kansas City Wizards striker Scott Sealy, who is on a standby list. Veteran former captain Anthony Rougier is the one surprise in the squad but Dundee winger Collin Samuel has been predictably included following a good showing in Trinidad and Tobago's 2-0 victory over Iceland in London last month.
Beenhakker explained that he had named the team early to put arrangements in place for a pre-World Cup tour which includes camps in Manchester, England and Austria. After playing Peru on May 10, the Soca Warriors leave four days later for a one-week camp in Manchester, England. They then head for another camp in Austria where they play international warm-up matches against Wales, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Beenhakker also felt it important to ease the anxiety on his players by declaring their standing in his team.
"The players, at this moment, have to know what the situation is as regards to 34, had been out of the national team ever since he was dropped by former coach Bertille St Clair following a rather ordinary performance against the United States in the opening game of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying. But given another chance to impress at a January camp in Fort Lauderdale, Rougier obviously made an impression. Beenhakker had a final look at the utility player on Saturday when he played for United Petrotrin in a T&T Pro League game at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
Beenhakker explained that from looking at past footage he came to realise that there were no players in his squad with Rougier's characteristics. With that, a he informed the player that to have a possibility of being selected he needed to be physically fit. Beenhakker now feels Rougier has done enough fitness-wise, over the last few months to be included in the squad.
Apart from Rougier, Beenhakker's squad contains all 23 players who travelled to Bahrain for the qualifier, except for young Sealy. In making his final selection, Beenhakker said he first had to protect the players who actually got Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup Finals. He then had to reach a balance, by selecting players with various talents. Cornell Glen, for instance, was selected because his speed makes him a dangerous weapon on the counter-attack. Beenhakker also noted that Glen could be used on either flank.
Having also looked at several players with Trinidad and Tobago parentage, the Dutchman felt that none was exceptionally better that the players he already had. England-born Fulham goalkeeper Anthony Warner and striker Ricky Shakes have therefore been placed on a standby list of players who will be called upon in case of injury.