No rest for Warriors in Prague

SCOTLAND-BASED striker Collin Samuel is likely to get his first start when the Trinidad and Tobago take on Czech Republic footballers in their final warm-up match before the World Cup Finals in Germany.

It will also be the last match for the Czechs and will be played at the Toyota Arena in Prague from 5.30 pm (11.30 am TT time) today.

Soca Warriors coach Leo Beenhakker will have his full list of players to choose from today, as Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews is expected to be in the line-up for what could be the toughest warm-up match.

Trinidad and Tobago, the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup Finals, open their cup bid on June 10 against Sweden in Dortmund.

Beenhakker’s team arrived at the Renaissance Hotel in Prague at mid-afternoon yesterday to cheers from a group of supporters.

There was little time to rest as Beenhakker set off to the match venue with skipper Dwight York and his teammates for a training session.

The Czechs, ranked world No 2, are coming off wins over 2-0 Costa Rica and 1-0 over Saudi Arabia and will have in their line-up Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved and Aston Villa striker Milan Baros.

The Soca Warriors, beaten in two of their last three warm-up matches will be looking for a victory over the Czechs outside favourites to win the Cup.

“What I want from this game is that we are still a little bit better than yesterday, because that’s what it’s all about in preparation,” Beenhakker said.

“You always want to win. We played well against Wales but we gave away two sloppy goals.” “We were surprised at the beginning against Slovenia but you have to realise that we have had a very tough preparation,” he said.

Today’s encounter is the first ever meeting between the two teams.

A couple Swedish reporters asked Beenhakker whether he had decided on a starting team for his opener against Sweden. “Yeah I am close to it,” he replied.

“I think we still can surprise one of the three teams in our group — England and Paraguay are the others — and hopefully it won’t be in the third match but the first or second. That’s my big dream,” he said.

Luton Town midfielder Carlos Edwards also felt that a good effort was in store against the Czechs.

A crowd of just over 10,000 is expected at the 22,000-seater venue which is the home base for Sparta Prague FC despite yesterday and today being general elections in the Czech Republic.