BY GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor
Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker reacts after his team conceded a World Cup 2006 goal. The Trinidadians were eliminated from the World Cup at the first round after losing 2-0 to Paraguay yesterday. - REUTERS
KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY:
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO bowed out of World Cup 2006 yesterday, but not before showing they had style as well as grit in going down 2-0 to Paraguay.
The Soca Warriors lost the game, but won the hearts of almost everyone here, turning on a relentless second half attacking display that deserved - even to the staunchest Paraguayan supporter - some sort of positive reward. But the big win they desperately needed did not materialise, although it would not have mattered anyway as England and Sweden drew 2-2 to bounce T&T from the tournament as both advanced to the Round of 16 from Group B.
In the end, though disappointed in the final outcome, the Soca Warriors were buoyed by the fact that the team, which was not even expected to be competitive, may well have turned into the darlings of the World Cup, in addition to earning valuable respect.
"They played with a lot of courage, a lot of passion," said coach Leo Beenhakker after the game. "And they worked so hard through the whole tournament. So I think for the moment I couldn't ask them for more. Everyone who was involved with this team, Trinidad and Tobago, can be proud of them."
The players themselves finished with a huge sense of accomplishment after representing the twin island republic in the World Cup for the first time ever against some of the game's biggest powerhouses.
"There is a bright future for T&T football," said right back Carlos Edwards. "I think we can compete with the best. We can go with our heads held high."
T&T stated their intention to attack early. Beenhakker started Cornell Glen, who had impressive outings as a substitute in the first two games, up front with Stern John. Captain Dwight Yorke would also move from his familiar holding midfield role to a more attacking spot just behind the pair of forwards.
GLANCING HEADER
Other changes to the line-up included the return of left back Avery John from suspension, after he incurred two yellow cards in the first match against Sweden. Original starting goalkeeper Kelvin Jack also played for the first time, returning from injury to replace Shaka Hislop.
Jack showed his confidence in the second minute, leaving his line to take a long ball on his chest outside the penalty box, calmly controlling, before booting out of bounds. A minute later he was forced to go full stretch to tip away Roque Santa Cruz's dangerous glancing header.
T&T responded shortly after. Yorke's free-kick was headed powerfully by Glen, but Paraguay's goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla palmed it away with a diving save.
The crowd of 46,000 at the Fritz Walter Stadion, now sensing both teams were willing to open up, launched into a series of Mexican waves. The players, particularly Paraguay, responded with some enterprising attacking play. The South Americans created - and missed - several scoring opportunities as T&T's increased interest in attack appeared to leave them vulnerable in defence. Santa Cruz in particular looked dangerous, especially on meeting crosses.
In the 22nd minute Jack again left his area, but this time muffed the control and was saved by Brent Sancho's timely intervention.
But it was Sancho who blundered three minutes later. Roberto Acuna's cross from the left side was flicked on by Julio Dos Santos. The ball sliced off the T&T defender's head and into the far corner with Jack well beaten.
Falling behind, Beenhakker again switched to the attack mode, replacing Avery John with forward Kenwyne Jones. Yet the three-pronged attack did not last long as Glen injured his knee and was carted off the field. He would not return.
With news of the England and Sweden battling even in faraway Cologne, T&T, spurred on by their roaring band of red-clad supporters, came out in the second half on the attack once more, desperate to score as time - and their tournament hopes - began slipping away. The Soca Warriors pressed forward in numbers, with Yorke orchestrating the attacks and rightback Carlos Edwards, especially, roaming forward dangerously along the flank.
SPECTATORS WONDERED
In the 67th minute Beenhakker played his final card, introducing Russell Latapy for Aurtis Whitley in midfield. It was the first World Cup appearance for the 'Little Magician', who once starred for Port Morant United in Jamaica, but likely his last in a T&T shirt after coming out of retirement to aid T&T's qualifying cause.
Yet, the former T&T captain did not disappoint,' inspiring the Soca Warriors with neat touches on the ball and urging his desperate team forward as some spectators wondered where he had been all along.
One set for longtime teammate Yorke was booted hard, but wide by the captain from straight on in the 73rd minute. Another clever pass, after pivoting in midfield, also drew gasps from the crowd.
Latapy also commanded the ball, cutting passing lanes in Paraguay's defence where previously none seemed to exist and in the 77th minute hammered a left-foot shot first time just over the crossbar. Another lunging effort was saved by Bobadilla.
In the end it was too much, too late for the Soca Warriors.
A late breakdown in the defence led to a second Paraguay goal by substitute Nelson Cuevas and their World Cup was over.
T&T finished at the bottom of Group B with one point with Paraguay ahead of them on three. Yet, judging from the prolonged standing ovation and flag waving from the entire crowd here, long after the final whistle, the Soca Warriors had indeed moved to a higher plane in world football and their hearts as well.
- Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
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