The prime minister declared a national holiday and tens of thousands of fans
danced to steel drums and soca music when Trinidad and Tobago qualified for its
first World Cup. For the tiny twin-island Caribbean nation, just making it to
Germany was a remarkable accomplishment.
"Every kid dreams to play in the World Cup," said 37-year-old midfielder
Russell Latapy, who came out of retirement from international play last year to
help his country qualify. "As a kid you say funny things. But saying it as a kid
and doing it at the twilight of your career are two totally different things."
Trinidad now turns its attention to the tough task ahead in Germany. T&T
will be underdogs in all three of its matches in Group B, starting June 10
against Sweden. That is followed by a much-awaited matchup against its former
colonial ruler, England, on June 15, before Trinidad finishes up the first round
on June 20 against Paraguay.
Playing in the only group with three teams that made it to the second round
in 2002 makes Trinidad one of the longest shots to advance in this year's
tournament. But the Soca Warriors aren't ready to concede just yet.
"Life is full of surprises, isn't it?" striker Dwight Yorke said. "Football
is unpredictable. The important thing is the country is behind us, supporting
us, backing us at every turn."
Yorke also came out of international retirement last year and helped Trinidad
qualify by beating Bahrain in a playoff. Yorke is the highest-profile star on
the team and probably Trinidad's greatest player ever, starting for many years
in England's Premier League.
Yorke scored 29 goals in his first season for Manchester United in 1998-99,
helping the storied team become the first English squad to win the league title,
the Football Association Cup and the Champions League in the same year.
Yorke is now playing a much deeper role in midfield and Coventry City striker
Stern John is the biggest scoring threat, converting twice in a 2-1 home win
against Mexico that put T&T into the playoff against Bahrain.
Trinidad also has an experienced coach in Leo Beenhakker, who coached at top
European clubs such as Ajax of Amsterdam and Real Madrid, as well as leading the
Netherlands to the second round in the 1990 World Cup.
After taking over the Soca Warriors in March 2005, Beenhakker helped the team
regroup from a slow start in qualifying. After tying Bahrain at home, T and T
won 1-0 on the road on Dennis Lawrence's goal to advance to the World Cup.
"In the past we were weak defensively, so we'd score two or three but lose
three or four," Latapy said. "Leo has brought us a stability on defense without
taking a way our flair. If we can score goals, we'll protect the goal, too."
Trinidad is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, with a
population of 1.3 million that is similar to that of San Diego and an area of
1,980 square miles that is about the size of Delaware.
The former British colony was granted independence in 1962 and joined FIFA
two years later. After coming close to qualifying for the 1974 World Cup,
Trinidad appeared poised to go to the 1990 tournament in Italy.
Needing just a tie at home against the United States on the final day of
qualifying, Trinidad was stunned when Paul Caliguiri scored from about 30 yards
in the 31st minute for the only goal of the game, sending the Americans to their
first World Cup since 1950.
"It was a very difficult time," said Latapy, who along with Yorke are the
only players left from that team. "Now we're taking that out of our system. It's
been hard all these years. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. We've
been aspiring for this shot for a long time. It was tough, really. But we're
focused on the future and not the past."
