BRING THEM ON !

TRINIDAD and Tobago defender Brent Sancho is looking forward to playing against England in a crucial Group ‘B’ match tomorrow in the World Cup Finals in Nueremberg.

And he refuses to be intimidated by the wealth of talent in the strike force of the English team, a former World Cup champion and one of the favourites to lift the trophy in this year’s competition.

Sancho said yesterday that he relishes the opportunity to play against world class players even if they are Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard or Peter Crouch.

Sancho, who is tipped to replace Avery John in the left back position tomorrow, after John was red carded against Sweden last Saturday, sees the England match-up as an opportunity to test himself.

“At the end of the day, I am representing 1.3 million people and I will do anything to stop them from scoring,” Sancho said yesterday, after the Soca Warriors winded down training in the northern German village of Rotenburg, which means Red Castle.

The Trinidad and Tobago players left by a special Lufthansa flight this morning for Nuremburg, the venue in south east Germany for Thursday’s eagerly awaited encounter.

After the Soca Warriors held Sweden to a goalless draw on Saturday they have become the new second favourites at the World Cup and the English are particularly interested in anything remotely associated with the team.

At the training session yesterday, camera crews, radio and press reporters were out in full force as well as photographers from England, Mexico, France, Italy and the United states.

Group leaders England need to defeat the Caribbean team to secure a spot in the last 16 knock-out phase of the tournament, while Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago have one point each. Paraguay are in cellar position with a defeat in their only match to date.

The South Americans play Sweden tomorrow as well.

Yesterday Sancho said that an impressive performance against England will certainly put him in the ‘shop window’ which could lead to a move to a bigger club.

However, he said his main concern is to prevent the English from scoring and get a good result for his team and continue their fairy tale run in the World Cup.

Sancho said that it is more than likely that the Soca Warriors will step up their game a notch against England since their training has prepared them for hard, physical matches.

Also the very warm weather, much like the Caribbean is expected to work in their favour as the English camp reportedly is experiencing serious problems with dehydration and have asked for permission to import three times more drinking water than what was first thought adequate.

“We have been working very hard with the coach and all the players are ready to take on the latest challenge.

“We think we can more than match the English and if we win I expect a national holiday in Scotland, Wales and Trinidad and Tobago,” said Sancho.

Nicknamed “Sadiq” by a former teammate, Sancho said that he has received a lot of support from fans and former teammates in Scotland and Wales, traditional rivals of England and they are rooting for the Soca Warriors.

A win against England tomorrow would certainly be the biggest upset ever in World Cup history.