Rougier recalled for World Cup

Yesterday national coach Leo Beenhakker released the names of 24 players and seven reserves at a press briefing at Crowne Plaza in Port-of-Spain.

United Petrotrin midfielder Anthony Rougier was the only surprise pick on the squad having last worn national colours over a year ago.

And according to Beenhakker, the only thing preventing the solid defensive midfielder from going to Germany is his fitness.

Beenhakker is expected to name his final squad of 23 and comply with the FIFA deadline for national rosters of May 15 early next month after the friendly international against Peru in Port-of-Spain on May 10.

Dwight Yorke, as expected will captain the team and will most likely revert to the forward line. “Yorke was a striker before moving to the midfield and he has shown he has what it takes to pump in some goals,” Beenhakker said yesterday.

The Tobago-born former Manchester united star is expected to lead a team comprising his close friend Russell Latapy, Chris Birchall (Port Vale), goalkeeper Kelvin Jack (Dundee United), Carlos Edwards (Luton Town), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham) and striker Stern John (Coventry).

Also making the cut is LAGalaxy foward Cornell Glen who was excluded from the team for the latter part of the CONCACAF qualifying matches last year, Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Kenwyn Jones (Southampton) and Falkirk’s new signing Densil Theobald.

Beenhakker had said after the Soca Warriors qualified for Germany that he will remain loyal to the players who made football history from the Caribbean twin-island state.

He noted that a number of overseas-based and local players from the T&T Pro League were looked at, but he did not see many who were better than those who is on his list.

Beenhakker said in naming his squad he sought to maintain a balance in the team.

He said the squad will be in Trinidad and Tobago by May 7 to start preparation for the friendly international against Peru at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, the final match before the national team leaves for Europe.

The team will then travel to England for one week to prepare technically and tactically. Beenhakker said the team will consist of three groups travelling separately with their luggage. First they comprise a group that has just come out of a competitive season and needs to rejoin the preparation; another group that consist of players who are at clubs overseas, but have not been playing because they have been on the bench; and then another group of five or six local players who just started their season in the T&T Pro League.

Trinidad and Tobago will open their campaign against Sweden June 10 in Dortmund before meeting England June 15 in Nuremberg.

They will then face South American team Paraguay on June 20 in Kaiserslautern.

The Dutchman also announced yesterday a list of seven players who will be standby in case of any possible injuries.

They are Fulham’s goalkeeper Anthony Warner, Nigel Henry of Kiruna FF, Ricky Shakes of Swindon Town, Port Vale’s Hector Sam, Anton Pierre of the Defence Force and Scott Sealy of the Kansas City Wizards. He said these players will not be considered for the May 10 encounter with Peru but they are to stay in contention in case of injuries.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SQUAD —

GOALKEEPERS: Kelvin Jack, Shaka Hislop, Clayton Ince

DEFENDERS: Cyd Gray, Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Ian Cox, Brent Sancho, David Atiba Charles, Avery John.

MIDFIELDERS: Silvio Spann, Chris Birchall, Anthony Rougier, Densil Theobald, Aurtis Whitley Anthony Wolfe

STRIKERS: Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy, Cornell Glen, Stern John, Colin Samuels, Carlos Edwards, Jason Scotland, Kenwyn Jones.