GO WARRIORS GO!

LOCAL football fans will have a final chance to see both Russell Latapy in his final international game on home soil, as well as the national team in action, before the Warriors leave for a pre-World Cup training stint in Europe.

With the 37-year-old Latapy affirming his decision to retire from national duty following next month’s FIFA World Cup in Germany, it may also be the last chance for the Trinidad and Tobago public to see his close friend captain Dwight Yorke, on the field of play.

Both Latapy and Yorke, who are undeniably the country’s most popular and yet controversial players, made international comebacks at various stages in 2005, in order to guide TT from rocky waters to the joys of World Cup participation.

The duo, who are the only members of the revered Strike Squad still involved in the top flight of the game, will be seeking to leave lasting memories on the home fans when Trinidad and Tobago oppose Peru at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo today from 6.30 pm.

Other players who may be pondering their future after the World Cup are Shaka Hislop, Clayton Ince, Kelvin Jack, Avery John, Marvin Andrews, Cyd Gray, Dennis Lawrence, Ian Cox and Anthony Rougier, all 30 years and over.

In that regard, it will be heartening to note that Chris Birchall, Silvio Spann, Kenwyne Jones, Collin Samuel, Densil Theobald, Cornell Glen and Anthony Wolfe — the future flagbearers of the national team’s dreams and aspirations — are all 25 years and under.

Therefore, today’s match, and the World Cup in general, are important moments for the short and long-term future of Trinidad and Tobago football.

Despite the high cost of a ticket, a sell-out crowd is expected at the Hasely Crawford Stadium for today’s highly-anticipated match.

Hislop and Glen are out of today’s fixture, with Hislop’s attention focused on this weekend’s English FA Cup final against Liverpool, for his club West Ham, while Glen suffered a hamstring injury a fortnight ago with his US MLS club Los Angeles Wizards.

Andrews joined the squad yesterday from his Scottish Premier League team Rangers and will be doubtful to play this evening.

Another important focus of today’s game will be the fact that it will be the last international before coach Leo Beenhakker finalises his 23-member World Cup team, meaning an omission for one of his 24-man provisional squad.

With FIFA mandating that the full team be announced by May 15, it is the final opportunity for Cox, Rougier, Samuel, Wolfe and David Atiba Charles to book their places to Germany.

During their World Cup test-run, the national squad will meet Wales on May 27, Slovenia on May 31 and Czech Republic on June 3, while their World Cup Group “B” campaign kicks off against Sweden on June 10.

Today’s game will, in a variety of ways, be a gauge for the squad before leaving for Europe on Saturday.

Teams:

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Kelvin Jack, Clayton Ince (goalkeepers); Dennis Lawrence, Avery John, Ian Cox, Brent Sancho, Cyd Gray, David Atiba Charles (defenders); Anthony Rougier, Dwight Yorke (capt), Russell Latapy, Densil Theobald, Carlos Edwards, Chris Birchall, Silvio Spann, Aurtis Whitley (midfielders); Stern John, Kenwyne Jones, Collin Samuel, Anthony Wolfe, Jason Scotland (strikers).

PERU: George Sommer, Erick Vasquez, Leao Gotuzzo (goalkeepers); Santiago Pena, Manuel Gonzales, Miguel Hurtado, Amilton Barron, John Castro, Ernesto Donayre (defenders); Aldo Vasallo, Paulo Durand, Rainer Salas, Carlos Zamora, Miguel Abad (midfielders); Roberto Jimenez, Wilmer Vasquez, Douglas Santillana, Pedro De La Cruz, Gustavo Ferrari (strikers).

(SEE PAGE 9A)