FIFA.com track team’s progress

TRINIDAD and Tobago were the biggest CONCACAF movers on the world football rankings for June. And following the recent draw against 2002 World Cup semi-finalists South Korea, they could well expect another jump. An article on FIFA.com highlighted TT’s progress. “Trinidad and Tobago may not be the best known footballing nation in the Caribbean, but these islands TT footballers have been punching above their weight for several years now and are not too far behind traditional big guns Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica,” the website states.

Two victories in June have propelled TT up 14 places to 63rd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World. Coach Bertille St Clair showed he is not taking any chances by bringing his troops to Asia in July for warm-up matches against Thailand (where they lost 3-2) and Korea Republic (1-1). “Those matches turned out to be just as testing as the manager had wanted. The footballers are an effective blend of local-based players and those plying their trade overseas. “This month’s ranking is the Trinidadians’ highest since October 2003, and they look set to rise further next month, but the islanders still have quite a way to go before they equal their best ever standing, 25th back in June 2001,” FIFA.com stated.