Lawrence’s mother expects win over England

“We go beat England,” she affirmed, mere minutes after watching Trinidad and Tobago’s goalless draw against Sweden yesterday.

England leads the four-team group after edging Paraguay 1-0 early yesterday but Lawrence noted that “they weren’t impressive” in their performance.

Lawrence and her husband, Adrian James, were unable to make it to Germany, instead they decided to view the pulsating contest at their Malick residence. “I felt tense and excited,” said Lawrence. “Everyone in the area was inside until after the game, then they came out and complimented the team.”

Asked about her prediction of the game, she replied: “. . . (the critics) felt we were a walkover, but I always had the belief that it would be 1-1 or 0-0.”

During the interview, Dennis Lawrence’s grandmother, Yvonne Bailey called the family home to share her glee from Brooklyn, New York. “I enjoyed the game and (Dennis) had a good game,” Bailey said. “Trinidad and Tobago played well and showed us something.”

Lawrence’s neighbour, who identified himself as David, spoke to the six-foot-seven-inch defender minutes after the final whistle blew. According to David: “He was at the team bus and he said the ride will take three hours to get back to the hotel (at Rotenburg).

“He said the atmosphere in the team was real nice but everyone was tired and wanted to get some rest,” David added.

Another Malick resident, Avionne John, was in a joyous mood yesterday evening.

John, the sister-in-law of TT reserve defender David Atiba Charles, said: “I was always behind the guys, the defence was strong, Shaka outdid himself, Cyd Gray gave a good performance.

“Aurtis (Whitley) ‘hyped’ up the game, (Dwight) Yorke was into the match and he saved us a lot,” she added, referring to Yorke’s display in the defensive midfield role.

John said the team showed great resilience and resolve after left-back Avery John was sent off in the 47th minute.

She is anxiously awaiting Trinidad and Tobago’s clash against England in four days’ time.

“Everybody will be glued to the TV and we’re looking forward to a victory,” she said.