Millions want Warriors to do well

As usual the favourites include the likes of Brazil, Argentina and France. However, there are many other teams in the competition who will testify to the old saying, “It’s not the winning but the taking part that counts” and no other team embodies this more so than the island nation Trinidad and Tobago (TT).

They just clinched qualification for the World Cup by the skin of their teeth, finishing fourth in the CONCACAF South American qualification group, which entitled them to a play-off with the fifth placed Asian team, Bahrain.

The first leg of this tie was played in the Trinidad capital, Port-of-Spain, and was a fairly even matched encounter, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Soca Warriors faced a daunting trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. They outplayed Bahrain for the majority of the match and a goal from defender Dennis Lawrence ultimately decided the match which finished 1 - 0.

Back in Port-of-Spain, thousands of fans celebrated, people of all ages were dancing in the streets to honour their nation’s greatest-ever footballing triumph.

While the people of TT are delighted that they are in the World Cup, some optimistic fans believe their is a chance they could overcome the first group stage of the competition. Indeed, this will be a hard task but Trinidad have been handed a reasonable draw for the first round in Group “B”.

They face an England team with injury problems and the ageing Paraguay and Sweden teams, so there is reason for optimism among the Trinidad and Tobago support.

They are managed by Leo Beenhakker, former head coach at Feyenoord, Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia and Holland. On the subject of his team’s World Cup group, Beenhakker said: “Our dream is to surprise these opponents. In football you always have a chance. It’s that simple.”

There are a handful of well-known players who will play for TT in the World Cup. West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop will play behind a defence that includes central defender Marvin Andrews, who became a fans’ favourite playing in Scotland with Rangers FC.

Then there is the talismanic midfielder Russell Latapy, former player of Rangers and Porto with over a hundred international appearances, who can still show his talent at the age of 37. The team is captained by former Manchester United hero, Dwight Yorke, who is now 34 years old but can still weigh in with a few goals at international level.

The rest of the team is made up of players who play in the lower reaches of the English and Scottish leagues and a number of young players who play in the US.

Outside of TT, few expect the nation to do well at the World Cup, many online bookmakers will give you odds of 1,000/1 on them winning the trophy.

Despite this, there are millions of foreigners who would love to see the team do well. They are a small, brave nation who will always battle hard in any game they play.

Trinidad and Tobago kick off their World Cup campaign on June 10 against Sweden in Dortmund. Regardless of the result, there will be celebrations on the streets of Port-of-Spain.