Sport

T&T hunt crucial points

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, CMC

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO are gearing up for one of the sternest tests in their bid to reach Germany 2006, when they face the United States in a crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at the Rentschler Field tonight at 8 p.m (Eastern Caribbean Time).

The Trinidadians have never beaten the U.S. in World Cup qualifying action but will need to rewrite history, in order to come away from the encounter with the valuable points they require.

Currently, Trinidad & Tobago lie fifth in the six-team table on four points after winning just one of five matches in the final round campaign that kicked off in February this year.

With the top three teams qualifying directly for the World Cup, Trinidad will need to start acquiring points if they are to keep their dreams alive of participating in the largest football showpiece.

Trinidad could still qualify if they finish outside the top three as the fourth-place finisher will compete in a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place finisher from the Asian Football Confederation.

Sole victory

Their only victory to date is a 2-0 win over Panama back in June but Trinidad have continued to struggle, losing to the United States, Mexico and Guatemala.

"We have all arrived and are here for this game today and obviously the focus aside from everything else has to be on winning this match," Leo Beenhakker, Trinidad & Tobago's head coach, told the players at a training session on Monday.

"Nobody else can do it for us and the coaches can't do it. We help to prepare you as best as possible. Coaches might lose the game but they can't win it. You the players have to make that win happen."

He added: "Of course now we have to monitor our progress as a team. For us to get a good performance and result on Wednesday depends on how good we can get it as a team now and for the actual match."

Trinidad will have to do without two key players for Wednesday's game after Luton's Carlos Edwards had a recurrence of a thigh strain and Brent Rahim suffered a calf strain.

The squad has, however, remained in good spirits ahead of the match and Beenhakker said they would continue to be focused despite the setbacks.

"This is football and there's nothing that we can do to change this now.

"It's still a game that we must prepare for and go out and try our best to get the best possible result," Beenhakker explained.

"With the majority of the team with us now, we can prepare better for the match and we intend to use the measures available to us to ensure that we are ready for the job."