Garcia optimistic of full points against Guatemala

The game, similar to the one in March, is another one in which Trinidad and Tobago need a result to keep their qualifying hopes alive as a point will push TT through to the hexagonal final stage while a victory will keep them on course for finishing the semi-final group on top of the pack heading into the closing fixture against the United States on September 6 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

“It’s going to be a big occasion for us and I am seeing a tough game as well for us on Friday,” Garcia said. “But we will be ready for it. We have an amazing team spirit and a great squad that will pull us through.

“I have not played against Guatemala before but I have seen the games and I know the Central American style so I expect they will come all out and try to stamp their authority. But we have shown that we are capable of putting them on the back foot which is exactly what we will need to do.

Once we settle in early and we make sure to avoid any silly mistakes then the game will be ours,” Garcia noted.

Garcia has played in all three of AZ Alkmaar’s matches so far this season and is expected to feature for them today before arriving home on Tuesday to join the TT team. He also scored three goals for the club in their pre-season campaign.

“I had a strong pre-season and we’ve already played three games in the new season. I feel really good at the moment. I’m just very excited as always to meet up with my national teammates for these two World Cup qualifiers,” he added.

The TT team enters a live-in camp today while the Guatemalans will arrive today, via Panama, on a Copa Airlines flight at 4.30 pm.

TT coach Stephen Hart will begin his full preparation tomorrow with the majority of the squad.

“We have a some of the players coming in on Monday and Tuesday but we’ll start some work with those that are here on Sunday evening. The important thing will be to have everyone here healthy and ready for the match.

It’s nothing new to us in terms of having a full squad in maybe three to four days before a match.

We’ll focus on what we need to do and manage our preparations in relation to Friday’s match in a fully concentrated mode,” Hart said.