Yesterday's anxieties over Hurricane Ivan notwithstanding, Trinidad and Tobago's senior national footballers are anticipating a big turnout at the Hasely Crawford stadium from 6 p.m. today when they face Mexico in their first semi-final home game of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying series.
The "Soca Warriors" go into the game as the only CONCACAF team with a 100 per cent record after scoring semi-final victories over St Vincent and the Grenadines (2-0) and then St Kitts/Nevis (2-1) last Saturday.
They will get the chance to improve on that record today after the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation decided against postponing the fixture against the Mexicans.
However, yesterday's inclement weather forced the abandonment of a planned training session when the facilities of the Hasely Crawford Stadium were found locked.
T&T were forced to remain indoors at the Crown Plaza Hotel, and yesterday officials were left searching for an alternative training venue. However, after returning from St Kitts on Sunday, T&T did have a good session on Monday at the venue, but would they would have preferred another before the big match.
The team facing Mexico today is essentially the same as that which got past St Kitts and Nevis on Saturday, except that captain Angus Eve returns from suspension to replace fellow midfielder Stokely Mason. This is despite coach Bertille St Clair earlier hinting at tinkering with the line-up.
"We got the desired three points in St Kitts but it's a different game against Mexico and we may need to make some adjustments to suit," he told TTFF Media.
One obvious change is the return of Eve, who will probably fill the defensive midfield position played by Anthony Rougier in the opening game against St Vincent. The closure of the Piarco International Airport has left Rougier stranded in London after he signed a one-year contract with a Chinese club over the weekend.
While the match against Mexico-ranked number eight in the World-represents a big step-up in class, T&T officials are expecting a brave showing from their team.
During their last World Cup campaign, the national team, which included Russell Latapy and Dwight Yorke, edged the Mexicans 1-0 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and the teams also drew 1-1 at the same venue in a later match.
Whilst this T&T team have no superstars, coach Bertille St Clair has reported the current bunch to be among the most disciplined and committed national side he has been in charge of.
There were reports that Mexico had planned to use an Under-23 selection for their earlier matches against the weaker St Kitts/Nevis and St Vincent teams. But T&T officials have dismissed the idea that the Central Americans would follow such a strategy here.
Because of the close recent results between the teams in matches played in T&T, the "Warriors" are expecting the Mexicans, who arrived here yesterday, to field their best squad and also to be fully prepared for the game.
Mexico tried without success to train on the Stadium ground yesterday, and instead had to settle for the nearby practice pitch. T&T are also hoping that things will also go against the visitors this evening.
Teams:
Trinidad & Tobago:
Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Angus Eve (San Juan Jabloteh, capt), Marlon Rojas (Joe Public), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Brent Sancho (Dundee), Andre Boucaud (Peterborough), Cornell Glen (NY/New Jersey MetroStars), Arnold Dwarika (Guanzhou FC), Brent Rahim (Falkirk), Stern John (Birmingham City), Errol McFarlane (Al Nejmeh), Denzil Theobald (Arima Morvant Fire), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Clayton Ince (Crewe Alexandra), Derek King (Joe Public), Jason Scotland (Dundee United), Silvio Spann (W Connection).
Mexico:
Moisis Munoz (Morelia), Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara), Hugo Sanchez (Tigres), Javier Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Hector Altamirano (Santos), Salvador Carmona (Guadalajara), Ismael Rodriguez (Monterrey), Gonzalo Pineda (U.N.A.M.), Mario Perez (America), Pavel Pardo (America), Israel Lopez (Toluca), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Luis Ernesto Perez (Guadalajara), Jose de Jesus Arellano (Monterrey), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara),Sergio Santana (Pachuca), Jared Borgetti (Dorados), Daniel Osorno (Atlas).