From the minute English-based Chris Birchall came onto the pitch to line up for the Soca Warriors against the United States on Wednesday at Hasely Crawford Stadium, it was clear the midfielder meant business. But it was the overwhelming support by T&T fans, which he says gave him the boost to really give the Americans a run for their money.
The Coventry City midfielder said the team was always confident it could pull off a win against the USA.
“I’m feeling really good. We were always confident that we could beat the USA team. It’s one thing to think it, but it’s another thing to actually win,” he said.
“We knew this was our big chance to win against the USA and we finally did it.”
Birchall was also high praise of his fellow Soca Warriors, whom he said, “really came good.”
“We stood our ground. We didn’t get nervous. We really pressured the USA team and we are all happy with the performance.”
Birchall assured that a determined T&T is what the Cubans will face on November 19, when the two countries battle in the final encounter at the same venue.
While he shied away from predicting the outcome of the game, he said he remained optimistic the ‘Soca Warriors’ would emerge victorious.
Birchall said when he arrived in England he might be “switching things” up a bit.
“I am going back to England with my club, but I may be switching clubs again. I know I’m not in the coach’s plans right now, so I might be switching it up to keep up my fitness level up.”
Birchall was unofficially given the “Man of the Match” title by spectators and officials for his workhorse display against the Americans.
TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner, while crediting the entire team for its efforts, declared the English-born player as his “Man of the Match” both for the 0-0 draw in Guatemala and victory at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
“I think it was a massive result for us really. We played with a lot of fight in us and a lot of pride too because we knew this was a game that we had to win. I personally feel delighted at the moment to be back in the team and be able to make the kind of contribution that I did both in Guatemala and here against the Americans,” Birchall said.
“For me it was a great pleasure to see the reaction of the fans and the way they were enjoying the win. It showed that the team is getting back the kind of support that we had in the last campaign and it’s definitely going to spur us on for the other matches. It looks as though we should be into the next round so hopefully the team can continue to make good progress and make the fans happy.
“I’m heading back to England but obviously it’s been hard for me to get into the Coventry first team. I’m the last player there who is supposed to go on loan and I think I should be heading out to another club very soon which is going to hopefully allow me to get back into first team football which will only be good for me.
I’ve felt very good fitness wise in the last couple games for Trinidad (and Tobago) and a lot of it has been because of the extra hours that I’ve put in. I hope to keep that up as we look ahead to the next phase of the qualifiers,” said.
Birchall to leave Coventry City.
By: Ian Prescott (Express)
Chris Birchall, the hardest working man on the field and Trinidad and Tobago's best player in Wednesday night's historic 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over the United States, has accepted that his future may not lie with English League Championship club Coventry City and is ready to make a move elsewhere.
Birchall was everywhere on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Often putting in the last tackle, his powerful surge through midfield also led to T&T's opening goal.
But, the 24-year-old England-born player thinks that none of that will make an impression on Coventry manager Chris Colemen when he returns to England.
"I think my career at my club is over, to be honest. I don't think Coventry will take much notice of my performance here. I think their mind's made up, if they want me to leave the club. And, that's fair enough," said Birchall following the game.
"I go back and speak to the manager and probably move on and play some good football then because I think my fitness is back and it's the right time to move on. It's the right time for me to go."
Birchall said Trinidad and Tobago were able to defeat the USA because they played as a team, the way they did in the match in Guatemala on Saturday when the Soca Warriors came away with a 0-0 draw despite being reduced to ten men after defender Cyd Gray got his second yellow card and was sent off in the first half.
He said that his high work rate was part of his game because he did not have the skill level, for instance, which a Dwight Yorke or Russell Latapy brings to the team.
"It's part of my game. Other people have more skill and bring different things to the game. My part of the game is to try to work and put the opposition under pressure. For me, it is pleasing that I played well and that my fitness is back to where it has to be. It was disappointing when I tried to play and the fitness wasn't there," said Birchall, adding that confidence was responsible for the good recent results for the national squad.
"The last two games have been very good and we thought we could get results against good teams. Whereas in the past, we used to go away and just hope for a point," he stated.