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332
Trinbago, NBA & World Basketball / The Dunk: John Starks versus the Bulls 1993
« on: November 10, 2006, 06:03:23 PM »
This one is for de die-hard basketball fans in here..
I recently resurrected an old argument with a long time bulls fan who swear Starks dunk that ball before Grant and Jordan reach...
personally for me, i say both ah dem get WETTT!!! horace get de full facial but jordan get bathe too...
this was voted one of the best dunks of all time on nba inside stuff...
http://www.nba.com/inside_stuff/five_dunks_041229.html
any thoughts?
333
Football / Rumor about John Terry
« on: November 08, 2006, 11:48:52 AM »
this rumor has been making its rounds on the internet... interesting
Keep in mind at this stage its only a RUMOR!!!!
Apparently John Terry told Ledley King to "Shut up you lippy black m****y"
before getting sent off on Sunday.
This would explain the following:
Why King went mad, when normally he is mild tempered and the incident
appeared harmless.
Why Chimbonda went berserk and had to be physically restrained.
Why Zakora went mad also.
Why Drogba, who was there and always gets involved, did nothing.
Why Terry calmly walked away expecting to be sent off for what appeared on
TV to be nothing.
Terry was accused by Eto of making racist comments in the Barcelona game
last year. Apparently a Spurs player has leaked this and Chelsea are working
overtime to keep it quiet.
Ashley Cole has said that Poll told him the lack of discipline by Chelsea
was out of order and Chelsea are trying to discredit Poll, who cannot
possibly come out and say what Terry did as he is the England captain,
preferring to say he was sent off for 'ungentlemanly conduct'.
Finally, Rio Ferdinand said in his book that a current England player was a
known racist. Wonder who he meant?
Keep in mind at this stage its only a RUMOR!!!!
Apparently John Terry told Ledley King to "Shut up you lippy black m****y"
before getting sent off on Sunday.
This would explain the following:
Why King went mad, when normally he is mild tempered and the incident
appeared harmless.
Why Chimbonda went berserk and had to be physically restrained.
Why Zakora went mad also.
Why Drogba, who was there and always gets involved, did nothing.
Why Terry calmly walked away expecting to be sent off for what appeared on
TV to be nothing.
Terry was accused by Eto of making racist comments in the Barcelona game
last year. Apparently a Spurs player has leaked this and Chelsea are working
overtime to keep it quiet.
Ashley Cole has said that Poll told him the lack of discipline by Chelsea
was out of order and Chelsea are trying to discredit Poll, who cannot
possibly come out and say what Terry did as he is the England captain,
preferring to say he was sent off for 'ungentlemanly conduct'.
Finally, Rio Ferdinand said in his book that a current England player was a
known racist. Wonder who he meant?
334
Football / The diminishing role of the sh*thound in world football
« on: November 07, 2006, 08:44:41 AM »
shithounds... de men we love to cuss...
Up until recently, the proverbial shithound was critical to a team's success.. by shithound, i am giving recognition to those unsung, underdiscussed squad players who punch above their weight with their limited talents for the benefit of the team...
to illustrate my point take a look back at the Ajax dream team of 1995.. Despite all their star players (Davids, Litmanen, Kluivert, Seedorf, De Boer twins, Finidi), do you remember men like Musampa, Melchiot and Wooter who were so vital to their overall success.. they epitomize de role.. be willing to plug a gap, fill in where necessary in a variety of positions and in the context of their own limitations to get the job done.. ever present men in times of injuries, for the lower profile games to give others a rest, these men were the true taskmasters in the game who you could count on to give their all day in day out even though skillwise they not on par with the more glamorous members of the team.
similiarly man utd had a nicky butt, juventus had di livio, barcelona had gabri, arsenal had parlour.. etc.. so many examples..
nowadays its all about 2 world class players for every position at the big clubs.. only ferguson seems to be keeping faith with the old school philosophy persisting with men like oshea, fletcher and silvestre.. but what happens now is that when players get injured, there are no shithounds around willing to plug the gap for a deficiency in a position and the only solution touted is buy a new player during the transfer window... Big teams dont have room for the grafters any more... Its all about instant success..
so next time you chatting football, spare a thought for your raul bravos, geremis, djimi traores and cygans..
theyre becoming an increasingly rare breed
Up until recently, the proverbial shithound was critical to a team's success.. by shithound, i am giving recognition to those unsung, underdiscussed squad players who punch above their weight with their limited talents for the benefit of the team...
to illustrate my point take a look back at the Ajax dream team of 1995.. Despite all their star players (Davids, Litmanen, Kluivert, Seedorf, De Boer twins, Finidi), do you remember men like Musampa, Melchiot and Wooter who were so vital to their overall success.. they epitomize de role.. be willing to plug a gap, fill in where necessary in a variety of positions and in the context of their own limitations to get the job done.. ever present men in times of injuries, for the lower profile games to give others a rest, these men were the true taskmasters in the game who you could count on to give their all day in day out even though skillwise they not on par with the more glamorous members of the team.
similiarly man utd had a nicky butt, juventus had di livio, barcelona had gabri, arsenal had parlour.. etc.. so many examples..
nowadays its all about 2 world class players for every position at the big clubs.. only ferguson seems to be keeping faith with the old school philosophy persisting with men like oshea, fletcher and silvestre.. but what happens now is that when players get injured, there are no shithounds around willing to plug the gap for a deficiency in a position and the only solution touted is buy a new player during the transfer window... Big teams dont have room for the grafters any more... Its all about instant success..
so next time you chatting football, spare a thought for your raul bravos, geremis, djimi traores and cygans..
theyre becoming an increasingly rare breed
335
Football / Rotation policy in football: Good or Bad?
« on: November 07, 2006, 07:12:28 AM »
In recent times, with the grossly inflated nature of the transfer market in football, and financial clout being the major if not most important factor in success in football, the coaching philosophy of rotation has become an ever present among the biggest football clubs.. the biggest clubs in the world have now must have 2 world class players for each position.. this results in quality players like Shaun Wright Phillips/Joe Cole, Thuram/Oleguer, Ronaldo/Cassano, Adriano/Cruz/Recoba riding some regular bench for their clubs..
Even the worst of teams are getting in on the act.. Last season, with one eye on the Carling Cup tie in midweek, Bryan Robson rested his best players for the league game against Chelsea in anticipation of sure defeat.
Coaching-wise, Rotation, while necessary to compete on all fronts given the excessive number of games in a year long season, comes fraught with several problems... rotation affects team continuity and ability to gel, morale and confidence among players, unhealthy competition and numerous problems for the coaching staff etc etc..
Do you think rotation is good or bad for football and how should it be dealt with??
Even the worst of teams are getting in on the act.. Last season, with one eye on the Carling Cup tie in midweek, Bryan Robson rested his best players for the league game against Chelsea in anticipation of sure defeat.
Coaching-wise, Rotation, while necessary to compete on all fronts given the excessive number of games in a year long season, comes fraught with several problems... rotation affects team continuity and ability to gel, morale and confidence among players, unhealthy competition and numerous problems for the coaching staff etc etc..
Do you think rotation is good or bad for football and how should it be dealt with??
336
Football / Roy Keane demands more from Yorke!!
« on: October 31, 2006, 04:22:05 AM »
Keane demands more from Yorke[/size]
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=425566&CPID=10&clid=56&lid=2&title=Keane+demands+more+from+Yorke
Roy Keane claims he expects a 'hell of a lot more' from striker Dwight Yorke.
Keane made the 35-year-old his most high-profile signing after taking the reins at The Stadium of Light, but the Irishman has not been overly enamoured with his former Manchester United treble-winning team-mate.
Ahead of Tuesday's Championship clash with pace-setters Cardiff, Keane has demanded an improved return from Yorke, who has scored just once in seven appearances since joining the side from Sydney FC.
"Not at this moment in time, no," replied Keane, to the question of whether he was pleased with Yorke's contribution - a player the manager considers to be a senior influence in the team's dressing room.
"He needs to do more, a hell of a lot more.
"You have got to change your style and adapt to different things because you do lose that extra bid of speed as you get older."
http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=425566&CPID=10&clid=56&lid=2&title=Keane+demands+more+from+Yorke
Roy Keane claims he expects a 'hell of a lot more' from striker Dwight Yorke.
Keane made the 35-year-old his most high-profile signing after taking the reins at The Stadium of Light, but the Irishman has not been overly enamoured with his former Manchester United treble-winning team-mate.
Ahead of Tuesday's Championship clash with pace-setters Cardiff, Keane has demanded an improved return from Yorke, who has scored just once in seven appearances since joining the side from Sydney FC.
"Not at this moment in time, no," replied Keane, to the question of whether he was pleased with Yorke's contribution - a player the manager considers to be a senior influence in the team's dressing room.
"He needs to do more, a hell of a lot more.
"You have got to change your style and adapt to different things because you do lose that extra bid of speed as you get older."
337
Football / Juventus penalty reduced by eight points
« on: October 28, 2006, 06:30:50 AM »
Juventus penalty reduced by eight points[/size]
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6111814
ROME (AP) - Juventus had its penalty in the Italian match-fixing scandal reduced by eight points on Friday by an independent arbitration board.
Juventus was stripped of its 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles, demoted to Serie B, and docked 17 points by a sports tribunal in July. In having its penalty reduced to nine points, the Turin club improved from 20th to 12th place in the second-division standings.
Juventus said the sentence "recognized at least in part the enormous commitment and spirit of sacrifice shown by the club."
The arbitration board set up by the Italian Olympic Committee also ruled on three other clubs involved in the scandal.
Lazio's 11-point penalty in the top division was reduced to three points, and the Rome club moved from 18th place to 13th. Lazio lawyer Giammichele Gentile said he was "partially satisfied."
Fiorentina had its 19-point penalty cut to 15 points, and remained in 19th place. The Florence club has indicated it may appeal to an ordinary court.
AC Milan did not have its eight-point penalty reduced. The club issued a statement saying the sentence "does not deserve any comment on the behalf of AC Milan."
Appeals hearings for the two other clubs sanctioned in the scandal, Reggina and Arezzo, are expected in November.
The sentences are expected to be the final decisions handed out by sports authorities in a scandal that began six months ago, with sentences that have undergone two revisions.
The Italian Soccer Federation on May 2 opened its investigation into phone wiretaps that suggested match fixing.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6111814
ROME (AP) - Juventus had its penalty in the Italian match-fixing scandal reduced by eight points on Friday by an independent arbitration board.
Juventus was stripped of its 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles, demoted to Serie B, and docked 17 points by a sports tribunal in July. In having its penalty reduced to nine points, the Turin club improved from 20th to 12th place in the second-division standings.
Juventus said the sentence "recognized at least in part the enormous commitment and spirit of sacrifice shown by the club."
The arbitration board set up by the Italian Olympic Committee also ruled on three other clubs involved in the scandal.
Lazio's 11-point penalty in the top division was reduced to three points, and the Rome club moved from 18th place to 13th. Lazio lawyer Giammichele Gentile said he was "partially satisfied."
Fiorentina had its 19-point penalty cut to 15 points, and remained in 19th place. The Florence club has indicated it may appeal to an ordinary court.
AC Milan did not have its eight-point penalty reduced. The club issued a statement saying the sentence "does not deserve any comment on the behalf of AC Milan."
Appeals hearings for the two other clubs sanctioned in the scandal, Reggina and Arezzo, are expected in November.
The sentences are expected to be the final decisions handed out by sports authorities in a scandal that began six months ago, with sentences that have undergone two revisions.
The Italian Soccer Federation on May 2 opened its investigation into phone wiretaps that suggested match fixing.
338
Football / Sunderland 2 Barnsley 0: Yorke revels in 'father-figure' role
« on: October 23, 2006, 04:21:35 AM »
Sunderland 2 Barnsley 0: Yorke revels in 'father-figure' role[/size]
By Simon Rushworth
Published: 23 October 2006
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article1919304.ece
Leopards, it is well known, never change their spots. However Black Cats, it seems, are capable of an unexpected transformation.
Dwight Yorke, the Sunderland forward, insists the club's manager, Roy Keane, has swapped scolding criticism for constructive serenity following his move into coaching. More surprising still, perhaps, is the Trinidad and Tobago international's own sobering makeover.
Yorke, famed for his party lifestyle and love of the limelight at his peak, is now preparing to preach professionalism and perseverance after a colourful 18-year career. "It's funny really," he said, after masterminding the second-half revival which enabled Sunderland to complete a deserved, if difficult, victory against Barnsley. "When I was growing up I never saw myself being a role model.
"But I see myself as a father figure here." If Yorke the mentor is revelling in his role reversal off the pitch then Yorke the playmaker is proving equally versatile on it. Short in the engine room, Keane employed his veteran striker as a central midfielder against Andy Ritchie's Tykes and if initial results were variable then the experiment was concluded successfully.
"I thought it worked well with Dwight in the middle," said Sunderland's manager. "When I brought him here I knew he'd been playing there for his club and his country. The statistics said that Dwight made more tackles in the World Cup than any other player. We need someone who knows when to sit and when to play the ball forward."
Yorke was able to "sit" as Nyron Nosworthy and Liam Lawrence combined down the Sunderland right to set up Dean Whitehead for the home team's opening goal, eight minutes from time. Chris Brown secured the three points with a header from the substitute Ross Wallace's cross in the 88th minute.
Goals: Whitehead (82) 1-0; Brown (88) 2-0.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Ward; Nosworthy, Varga, Cunningham (Nyatanga, h-t), D Collins; Lawrence, Yorke, Whitehead, Murphy (Wallace, 74); Connolly (Leadbitter, 83), Brown. Substitutes not used: Alnwick (gk), Miller.
Barnsley (4-4-2): Colgan; Hassell, Reid, Kay, Williams; Devaney, Togwell, Howard (Healy, 72), McIndoe; Hayes (Nardiello, 84), Richards (Wright, 72). Substitutes not used: Letheren (gk), Heckingbottom.
Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancs).
Booked: Barnsley: Reid.
Man of the match: Connolly.
Attendance: 27, 918.
By Simon Rushworth
Published: 23 October 2006
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article1919304.ece
Leopards, it is well known, never change their spots. However Black Cats, it seems, are capable of an unexpected transformation.
Dwight Yorke, the Sunderland forward, insists the club's manager, Roy Keane, has swapped scolding criticism for constructive serenity following his move into coaching. More surprising still, perhaps, is the Trinidad and Tobago international's own sobering makeover.
Yorke, famed for his party lifestyle and love of the limelight at his peak, is now preparing to preach professionalism and perseverance after a colourful 18-year career. "It's funny really," he said, after masterminding the second-half revival which enabled Sunderland to complete a deserved, if difficult, victory against Barnsley. "When I was growing up I never saw myself being a role model.
"But I see myself as a father figure here." If Yorke the mentor is revelling in his role reversal off the pitch then Yorke the playmaker is proving equally versatile on it. Short in the engine room, Keane employed his veteran striker as a central midfielder against Andy Ritchie's Tykes and if initial results were variable then the experiment was concluded successfully.
"I thought it worked well with Dwight in the middle," said Sunderland's manager. "When I brought him here I knew he'd been playing there for his club and his country. The statistics said that Dwight made more tackles in the World Cup than any other player. We need someone who knows when to sit and when to play the ball forward."
Yorke was able to "sit" as Nyron Nosworthy and Liam Lawrence combined down the Sunderland right to set up Dean Whitehead for the home team's opening goal, eight minutes from time. Chris Brown secured the three points with a header from the substitute Ross Wallace's cross in the 88th minute.
Goals: Whitehead (82) 1-0; Brown (88) 2-0.
Sunderland (4-4-2): Ward; Nosworthy, Varga, Cunningham (Nyatanga, h-t), D Collins; Lawrence, Yorke, Whitehead, Murphy (Wallace, 74); Connolly (Leadbitter, 83), Brown. Substitutes not used: Alnwick (gk), Miller.
Barnsley (4-4-2): Colgan; Hassell, Reid, Kay, Williams; Devaney, Togwell, Howard (Healy, 72), McIndoe; Hayes (Nardiello, 84), Richards (Wright, 72). Substitutes not used: Letheren (gk), Heckingbottom.
Referee: N Swarbrick (Lancs).
Booked: Barnsley: Reid.
Man of the match: Connolly.
Attendance: 27, 918.
340
Football / Raul dropped by Spain for first time in a decade
« on: September 29, 2006, 07:13:23 AM »
Raul dropped by Spain for first time in a decade
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6013594
MADRID, Spain (AP) - Spain coach Luis Aragones dropped captain Raul Gonzalez from the national squad for the first time in 10 years on Friday.
Raul, Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals from 102 appearances, will sit out the 2008 European Championship qualifier against Sweden on Oct. 7 and a friendly against Argentina four days later.
The 29-year-old has struggled in recent months and only this week ended an 11-month scoring drought for Real Madrid. He became the Champions League's all-time leading scorer Tuesday when he got two goals in Madrid's 5-1 win over Dynamo Kiev.
Raul has 53 goals in Europe's elite club competition - one more than Andriy Shevchenko.
Aragones said he had picked the players most likely to help Spain rebound from last month's shock 3-2 defeat at Northern Ireland.
"These are the players who can give best results in the matches we have coming up," Aragones said. "There are times when the best player is not in the best form."
The coach also excluded Mariano Pernia, Joaquin Sanchez and Borja Oubina - who all featured in the European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland.
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6013594
MADRID, Spain (AP) - Spain coach Luis Aragones dropped captain Raul Gonzalez from the national squad for the first time in 10 years on Friday.
Raul, Spain's all-time leading scorer with 44 goals from 102 appearances, will sit out the 2008 European Championship qualifier against Sweden on Oct. 7 and a friendly against Argentina four days later.
The 29-year-old has struggled in recent months and only this week ended an 11-month scoring drought for Real Madrid. He became the Champions League's all-time leading scorer Tuesday when he got two goals in Madrid's 5-1 win over Dynamo Kiev.
Raul has 53 goals in Europe's elite club competition - one more than Andriy Shevchenko.
Aragones said he had picked the players most likely to help Spain rebound from last month's shock 3-2 defeat at Northern Ireland.
"These are the players who can give best results in the matches we have coming up," Aragones said. "There are times when the best player is not in the best form."
The coach also excluded Mariano Pernia, Joaquin Sanchez and Borja Oubina - who all featured in the European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland.
341
Football / Should overly-aggressive and intentional tackles be criminal offences?
« on: August 29, 2006, 08:48:33 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVKSro1aA3s
This had to be the worst tackle seen since Roy Keane on Alfe Inge haaland... If this forearm had ketch him in he temple he couldve easily killed the man.. It was intentional and Ben thatcher has a history of this sort of thing. He even gave a chinese player a collapsed lung after an elbow in a preseason game... And mendes has seizures on the way to hospital
What I want to know is if vulgar tackles like this are under the perview of the law and can be deemed criminal offences...
On the one hand, when you look at that tackle, if i was to hit a man that in de road outside de stadium i could be in prison for felony assault.. Roy Keane recently admitted in his book that his career-ending tackle on Haaland was intentional, he fully meant to take him out, and I for one feel he coulda get at least a lawsuit for that...
But on the other hand, is not like you want policemen waiting on de side of de field to arrest men for bad tackle, and its hard to determine intentional/unintentional.
What do you think?
This had to be the worst tackle seen since Roy Keane on Alfe Inge haaland... If this forearm had ketch him in he temple he couldve easily killed the man.. It was intentional and Ben thatcher has a history of this sort of thing. He even gave a chinese player a collapsed lung after an elbow in a preseason game... And mendes has seizures on the way to hospital
What I want to know is if vulgar tackles like this are under the perview of the law and can be deemed criminal offences...
On the one hand, when you look at that tackle, if i was to hit a man that in de road outside de stadium i could be in prison for felony assault.. Roy Keane recently admitted in his book that his career-ending tackle on Haaland was intentional, he fully meant to take him out, and I for one feel he coulda get at least a lawsuit for that...
But on the other hand, is not like you want policemen waiting on de side of de field to arrest men for bad tackle, and its hard to determine intentional/unintentional.
What do you think?
342
Football / Which player in world football now reminds you of Latapy??
« on: August 19, 2006, 10:36:06 AM »
De little magician on he way out... missing him already.. no one quite like him nuh..
but can you think of any other player in football now who remind you of Latas??
for me, watching this man brand, vision and touches, its.. Ivan De La Pena
but can you think of any other player in football now who remind you of Latas??
for me, watching this man brand, vision and touches, its.. Ivan De La Pena
343
Football / Why de moderators dont do something about de setta small talk on this forum?!
« on: August 16, 2006, 04:39:50 AM »
Now reading thru a topic about using local based players for the next few games...
ting going nice... educated opinions being exchanged back and forth... lil joke here and there..
all of ah sudden is...
"boy i living canada but yuh neva went behind de bridge.. when ah see yuh ah go beat yuh"
"eh yuh mudda.. iz only 16 and livin in posh area but me and meh boys go done yuh"
"when ah see yuh in school tomorrow..."
and is so it going for about a whole page, nothing to do with the topic.. a whole setta lil boy chat dat wouldnt even be welcome in ah primary school girls bathroom, last cubicle..
now i'm sure i'm not the first to complain about this, and i'm sure many an educated poster has been turned away from here by de setta primary school cross talk dat have nothing to do with football...
but surely the moderators can do something about this, seeing as these posts contribute nothing positive to this forum..
isnt this a football forum?
ting going nice... educated opinions being exchanged back and forth... lil joke here and there..
all of ah sudden is...
"boy i living canada but yuh neva went behind de bridge.. when ah see yuh ah go beat yuh"
"eh yuh mudda.. iz only 16 and livin in posh area but me and meh boys go done yuh"
"when ah see yuh in school tomorrow..."
and is so it going for about a whole page, nothing to do with the topic.. a whole setta lil boy chat dat wouldnt even be welcome in ah primary school girls bathroom, last cubicle..
now i'm sure i'm not the first to complain about this, and i'm sure many an educated poster has been turned away from here by de setta primary school cross talk dat have nothing to do with football...
but surely the moderators can do something about this, seeing as these posts contribute nothing positive to this forum..
isnt this a football forum?
344
Football / Dennis Lawrence: Back to earth from the top of the world (Independent UK)
« on: August 05, 2006, 06:08:44 AM »
Lawrence: Back to earth from the top of the world.
By: Sport.independent.co.uk.
As he prepares for the new season with Wrexham, Soca Warrior Dennis Lawrence tells Ian Herbert about the differences between battling England in Germany and a first-day trip to Wycombe.
For David Trezeguet, the dubious pleasures of Rimini, Bari and other Serie B obscurities lie ahead at Juventus, while for Craig Moore, erstwhile hero of Australia's defence, life after the World Cup has brought a place on the bench at Lillestrom, in the depths of Newcastle's Intertoto Cup campaign. But none of the players who graced football's greatest stage this summer has fallen quite so far to earth as the defender who finds himself on the long road to Wycombe today
Just seven weeks ago, Trinidad & Tobago's Dennis Lawrence was an immovable object resisting England at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg. He succeeded for 83 minutes, in a performance which prompted a flurry of inquiries, from Rapid Vienna to VfL Bochum and Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga. But after a sometimes bewildering summer, which propelled him from Germany to an audience with the Trinidadian Prime Minister, then back to an honorary role at the Llangollen musical eisteddfod in north Wales, Lawrence is sizing up autumn nights in Macclesfield and Accrington.
Lawrence's manager, Denis Smith, knows a motivated centre-back when he sees one, after years of throwing himself around for Stoke City, and says his Trinidadian charge was "six feet taller" last month when he returned to training - which, as Lawrence's, agent Mike Berry, points out, makes him 12ft 7in and quite a proposition by League Two standards. But returning to the old routines after June's giddying experiences will not be as easy as it sounds. "What you learn from a World Cup is not that easy to apply to this league," Lawrence warns, after a morning amid the showers at Wrexham's Collier's Park training ground during which the lessons of a 5-0 pre-season panning at Port Vale were on the agenda. "The World Cup is about keeping possession. The more you've got the ball, the more chance you've got of winning the match. Here, it's more direct, more physical. And it is more about consistency. It's not three games, but a long season."
Lawrence's appearance in Germany has made his toothy grin one of the most recognised in north Wales. But fame does not settle easily on the player, who speaks with the modesty of a man who was still a soldier until Smith's predecessor, Brian Flynn, spotted him with Army club Defence Force just five years ago, and spent £75,000 on a hunch that he could iron out his rough spots and make something of his height.
"After the World Cup finished, I spent a fair bit of time trying to avoid the crowds," Lawrence says. "We felt we deserved more from the tournament and what we needed most was some time to reflect."
In Germany, Lawrence needed a police escort after he and others were swamped by fans when inadvisably venturing into Rotenburg, near T&T's World Cup base. Facing more of the same once the squad had touched down back in Port of Spain on 20 June, he decided against a return to Morvant, the impoverished district of the city where "Lawrence of Morvant" (to coin one popular T&T fans' chant about him) grew up. Instead, the Lawrence clan made the trip up to the Crown Plaza hotel in the city, where the players were given their first day free before an open-top bus tour which ended at the national Hasely Crawford Stadium.
"There were thousands there and we met the Prime Minister [Patrick Manning]," Lawrence says. "You'd have thought we'd won the tournament. We were disappointed to be home, but for the people it was sheer jubilation."
With his wife, Gloria, and daughter, Celine, back in Wrexham's Hightown district for the rest of the school term, Lawrence then left Trinidad for Miami with his great friend Marvin Andrews, almost as much of a cult figure at Rangers as "Big Dennis" is in north Wales. "It was an escape," Lawrence says.
As he reflects on the 2-0 defeat to England, it becomes evidentt the Soca Warriors felt Aaron Lennon - a 58th-minute substitute - was the player who hurt them most. "Before he arrived there were a few chances, but Lennon forced us to change our plan," Lawrence says. "We thought at one stage they had just run out of ideas and the longer the game went on, the better our chances. Lennon made some problems for us and got down the byline."
Lawrence does seem to have been changed - hardened - by the summer. Ask for an abiding World Cup memory and there is no talk of Shaka Hislop's heroics against Sweden or that 10,000 crowd in Port of Spain on 22 June. Instead Lawrence tells of the moment he looked up at the Frankenstadion scoreboard, saw the words "1-0, 83 minutes" and felt the devastation of going so close and failing. "That affects you," he says. "We didn't deserve the result we got. We had a thing going that night."
Lawrence is not the only Soca Warrior returning to relative obscurity. Carlos Edwards remains at Luton Town, despite approaches from Watford and Birmingham, Chris Birchall has stayed at Port Vale after Norwich ruled out a purchase and Hislop has left West Ham for FC Dallas in the US.
But Wrexham, who brought Carlos Edwards and Walsall's new Trinidadian striker Hector Sam to Britain, clearly believe their adoptive Caribbean nation has more to offer. One of their most exciting signings is Josh Johnson, a winger picked up from San Juan Jabloteh who, to judge by the way he gave Manchester City's Ben Thatcher the run-around in a recent friendly, has more pace than Carlos Edwards and delivers a better cross. "I've heard about him and his pace," Lawrence says. "I hope after this summer I have a few things to pass on."
By: Sport.independent.co.uk.
As he prepares for the new season with Wrexham, Soca Warrior Dennis Lawrence tells Ian Herbert about the differences between battling England in Germany and a first-day trip to Wycombe.
For David Trezeguet, the dubious pleasures of Rimini, Bari and other Serie B obscurities lie ahead at Juventus, while for Craig Moore, erstwhile hero of Australia's defence, life after the World Cup has brought a place on the bench at Lillestrom, in the depths of Newcastle's Intertoto Cup campaign. But none of the players who graced football's greatest stage this summer has fallen quite so far to earth as the defender who finds himself on the long road to Wycombe today
Just seven weeks ago, Trinidad & Tobago's Dennis Lawrence was an immovable object resisting England at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg. He succeeded for 83 minutes, in a performance which prompted a flurry of inquiries, from Rapid Vienna to VfL Bochum and Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga. But after a sometimes bewildering summer, which propelled him from Germany to an audience with the Trinidadian Prime Minister, then back to an honorary role at the Llangollen musical eisteddfod in north Wales, Lawrence is sizing up autumn nights in Macclesfield and Accrington.
Lawrence's manager, Denis Smith, knows a motivated centre-back when he sees one, after years of throwing himself around for Stoke City, and says his Trinidadian charge was "six feet taller" last month when he returned to training - which, as Lawrence's, agent Mike Berry, points out, makes him 12ft 7in and quite a proposition by League Two standards. But returning to the old routines after June's giddying experiences will not be as easy as it sounds. "What you learn from a World Cup is not that easy to apply to this league," Lawrence warns, after a morning amid the showers at Wrexham's Collier's Park training ground during which the lessons of a 5-0 pre-season panning at Port Vale were on the agenda. "The World Cup is about keeping possession. The more you've got the ball, the more chance you've got of winning the match. Here, it's more direct, more physical. And it is more about consistency. It's not three games, but a long season."
Lawrence's appearance in Germany has made his toothy grin one of the most recognised in north Wales. But fame does not settle easily on the player, who speaks with the modesty of a man who was still a soldier until Smith's predecessor, Brian Flynn, spotted him with Army club Defence Force just five years ago, and spent £75,000 on a hunch that he could iron out his rough spots and make something of his height.
"After the World Cup finished, I spent a fair bit of time trying to avoid the crowds," Lawrence says. "We felt we deserved more from the tournament and what we needed most was some time to reflect."
In Germany, Lawrence needed a police escort after he and others were swamped by fans when inadvisably venturing into Rotenburg, near T&T's World Cup base. Facing more of the same once the squad had touched down back in Port of Spain on 20 June, he decided against a return to Morvant, the impoverished district of the city where "Lawrence of Morvant" (to coin one popular T&T fans' chant about him) grew up. Instead, the Lawrence clan made the trip up to the Crown Plaza hotel in the city, where the players were given their first day free before an open-top bus tour which ended at the national Hasely Crawford Stadium.
"There were thousands there and we met the Prime Minister [Patrick Manning]," Lawrence says. "You'd have thought we'd won the tournament. We were disappointed to be home, but for the people it was sheer jubilation."
With his wife, Gloria, and daughter, Celine, back in Wrexham's Hightown district for the rest of the school term, Lawrence then left Trinidad for Miami with his great friend Marvin Andrews, almost as much of a cult figure at Rangers as "Big Dennis" is in north Wales. "It was an escape," Lawrence says.
As he reflects on the 2-0 defeat to England, it becomes evidentt the Soca Warriors felt Aaron Lennon - a 58th-minute substitute - was the player who hurt them most. "Before he arrived there were a few chances, but Lennon forced us to change our plan," Lawrence says. "We thought at one stage they had just run out of ideas and the longer the game went on, the better our chances. Lennon made some problems for us and got down the byline."
Lawrence does seem to have been changed - hardened - by the summer. Ask for an abiding World Cup memory and there is no talk of Shaka Hislop's heroics against Sweden or that 10,000 crowd in Port of Spain on 22 June. Instead Lawrence tells of the moment he looked up at the Frankenstadion scoreboard, saw the words "1-0, 83 minutes" and felt the devastation of going so close and failing. "That affects you," he says. "We didn't deserve the result we got. We had a thing going that night."
Lawrence is not the only Soca Warrior returning to relative obscurity. Carlos Edwards remains at Luton Town, despite approaches from Watford and Birmingham, Chris Birchall has stayed at Port Vale after Norwich ruled out a purchase and Hislop has left West Ham for FC Dallas in the US.
But Wrexham, who brought Carlos Edwards and Walsall's new Trinidadian striker Hector Sam to Britain, clearly believe their adoptive Caribbean nation has more to offer. One of their most exciting signings is Josh Johnson, a winger picked up from San Juan Jabloteh who, to judge by the way he gave Manchester City's Ben Thatcher the run-around in a recent friendly, has more pace than Carlos Edwards and delivers a better cross. "I've heard about him and his pace," Lawrence says. "I hope after this summer I have a few things to pass on."
345
Football / Looking for dvd or vhs copies of Soca Warriors Game - UK
« on: July 27, 2006, 02:44:31 AM »
Did anyone tape the TT world cup games here in the uk and willing to link me with copies?? I on dial-up so download is pressure..
If you have them PM me please, thanks....
If you have them PM me please, thanks....
346
Football / Falkirk friendly results in farce
« on: July 17, 2006, 08:21:02 AM »
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/5186934.stm
Falkirk's pre-season friendly with Turkish side Rizespor in Holland was abandoned when a fight broke out.
A first-half brawl saw play suspended then the match was stopped on 55 minutes when Turkish players reacted to a streaker celebrating a Falkirk goal.
The Turks had shown up three hours late forcing some fans to miss the game in order to catch flights home.
"We are angry about the inconvenience and possible additional cost for fans," director George Craig told The Herald.
.....
wonder if latas was fighting too???
Falkirk's pre-season friendly with Turkish side Rizespor in Holland was abandoned when a fight broke out.
A first-half brawl saw play suspended then the match was stopped on 55 minutes when Turkish players reacted to a streaker celebrating a Falkirk goal.
The Turks had shown up three hours late forcing some fans to miss the game in order to catch flights home.
"We are angry about the inconvenience and possible additional cost for fans," director George Craig told The Herald.
.....
wonder if latas was fighting too???
348
Football / #14 IS DE BEST TING IN A TUGS
« on: June 07, 2006, 08:09:22 AM »
I see like that 'other' thread cyah done for nutten... i fed up...
well all who post in that to waste down we big forward, fire bun!!!Â
because whether yuh like him or not is he goals have we where we is... and in 2 days, regardless of what happen, it is a dream come thru for everyone here on this forum... live it and love it and stop de griping and fight down...
who ever ask inzaghi to run back and defend? how much goal drogba throw way? any of them international record match up?
i doh really care if he miss he birthday on saturday.. stern.. if yuh reading.. THANKS AND BIG UP!!!
I doh really care wha happen from now on.... i delirious for de last week... i never feel this vibes before.. allyuh get real and temper allyuh expectations... cause no matter what happen, all that counts for me is.....
well all who post in that to waste down we big forward, fire bun!!!Â
because whether yuh like him or not is he goals have we where we is... and in 2 days, regardless of what happen, it is a dream come thru for everyone here on this forum... live it and love it and stop de griping and fight down...
who ever ask inzaghi to run back and defend? how much goal drogba throw way? any of them international record match up?
i doh really care if he miss he birthday on saturday.. stern.. if yuh reading.. THANKS AND BIG UP!!!
I doh really care wha happen from now on.... i delirious for de last week... i never feel this vibes before.. allyuh get real and temper allyuh expectations... cause no matter what happen, all that counts for me is.....
WE REACH
[/size]
349
2006 World Cup - Germany / Calling home from Germany... Which is the best value phone card to buy??
« on: June 06, 2006, 05:55:14 AM »
What is the best value phone card to buy for calling Trinidad from Germany? i.e. most minutes for cheapest price...
Can anyone assist?
Can anyone assist?
350
2006 World Cup - Germany / German E-plus SIM card
« on: May 25, 2006, 04:54:25 AM »
Just bought 2 on ebay for £3 each plus £2.50 shipping...
I first checked out my phone at the orange store to get them to confirm that my model will work in Germany with the correct frequency etc..
Just need to top up when I get over there.. I think this is a necessity to be contactable with ppls over in Germany without having to pay exorbitant roaming rates. Also good to allow people back home to contact you at a german number without you having to pay for incoming calls.
recommended....
I first checked out my phone at the orange store to get them to confirm that my model will work in Germany with the correct frequency etc..
Just need to top up when I get over there.. I think this is a necessity to be contactable with ppls over in Germany without having to pay exorbitant roaming rates. Also good to allow people back home to contact you at a german number without you having to pay for incoming calls.
recommended....
351
Football / World Cup fans warned of race attacks
« on: May 18, 2006, 03:03:35 AM »
I'm staying in a suburb town just north of frankfurt.. should i be worried?
World Cup fans warned of race attacks[/size]
By Bojan Pancevski in Berlin
(Filed: 30/04/2006)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/30/wberlin30.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/30/ixworld.html
Black visitors to the World Cup in Germany are being warned to stay clear of parts of the country where they could be at risk of racist attacks.
A "no-go" map, with a focus on the capital Berlin, will be posted on a website and printed in brochures for distribution to thousands of visitors of African and Asian origin.
The document was drawn up by the Africa Council, an umbrella organisation of African community groups and activists in Germany, following concern over an incident on Easter Sunday when a German of Ethiopian descent was beaten into a coma at a bus station in Potsdam.
Ermyas Mulugeta, 37, an engineer and father of two, suffered multiple skull fractures and brain trauma and is fighting for his life while being kept in an artificial coma at a local clinic.
The attack, believed to have been the work of far-Right extremists, has brought Germany's problems with racism into the spotlight and resulted in nationwide demonstrations, calling for politicians to take urgent action.
Moctar Kamara, 42, the Africa Council's president, said that "non-whites" were being targeted in particular parts of the country and that fans attending the World Cup in June needed to be warned.
He said: "Black people here are facing racist assaults ranging from verbal insults to murder. There are areas where non-whites are simply not safe, not even to use public transport.
"That is why we are warning the thousands of football fans who are coming to Germany without knowing what could happen if they go into the wrong areas. We will set up a website and distribute brochures with all the necessary information, including maps of the no-go areas and lists of pubs, clubs and other establishments that have a history of racist incidents.
"We feel it is a necessary measure for the safety not only of visitors from Africa, like the supporters of Tunisia, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast or Angola, but also for the many fans of various ethnic background who will travel from the UK and other countries. Local authorities have not supported us in any way, but we have received generous support from the African community in the UK."
Areas in Berlin that Mr Kamara believes are dangerous include the districts of Hellersdorf-Marzahn, Koepenick and Pankow, and the streets around the railway stations Ostkreuz and Lichtenberg. But he said the situation was much worse in regions of the former East Germany, especially in the states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, where far-Right and neo-Nazi ideology was on the rise, particularly among unemployed youths.
None of the England team's scheduled first-round fixtures will take place in areas highlighted on the council's map, but matches featuring teams from Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador and Tunisia will all be staged in Berlin.
The council's initiative has, however, provoked protests among local officials, who are upset at allegations that certain communities are more xenophobic than others. The council has not publicly named other cities apart from Berlin which it plans to highlight as dangerous. However, the Saxony city of Leipzig, which is hosting World Cup matches, is thought to be among them.
Anja Trojahn, a spokesman for the police in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, said: "There are xenophobic incidents, but they happen everywhere. I do not know why Mr Kamara picked our state as the worst example."
Frank Henkel, the interior affairs expert of the ruling Christian Democratic Union, deemed the no-go areas a "nonsense and causing panic", while a Berlin police spokesman said that there were "no no-go areas in Berlin".
Mr Kamara said politicians were trying to ignore the problem. "The majority of victims of racism are outside the statistics, as African people often do not dare to go to the police. Violent assaults motivated by racist hatred are therefore registered as 'normal' incidents."
To prove its claims, the council is planning a press conference, with witnesses and victims of racist assaults, at the end of this week.
According to the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the number of incidents linked to far-Right extremism rose from 12,000 in 2004 to 15,000 in 2005. The number of violent Right-wing extremists is estimated to be more than 10,000.
Yonas Endrias, the vice-president of the International Human Rights League, one of Germany's oldest human rights groups, said: "We fully support the initiative of the Africa Council. There are places in eastern Germany where black people are not safe if they go out after dark."
Stephan Eiermann, the spokesman for the German World Cup Committee in Frankfurt said: "We have heard about the no-go areas guide but have not seen it yet, therefore we cannot comment."
World Cup fans warned of race attacks[/size]
By Bojan Pancevski in Berlin
(Filed: 30/04/2006)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/30/wberlin30.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/30/ixworld.html
Black visitors to the World Cup in Germany are being warned to stay clear of parts of the country where they could be at risk of racist attacks.
A "no-go" map, with a focus on the capital Berlin, will be posted on a website and printed in brochures for distribution to thousands of visitors of African and Asian origin.
The document was drawn up by the Africa Council, an umbrella organisation of African community groups and activists in Germany, following concern over an incident on Easter Sunday when a German of Ethiopian descent was beaten into a coma at a bus station in Potsdam.
Ermyas Mulugeta, 37, an engineer and father of two, suffered multiple skull fractures and brain trauma and is fighting for his life while being kept in an artificial coma at a local clinic.
The attack, believed to have been the work of far-Right extremists, has brought Germany's problems with racism into the spotlight and resulted in nationwide demonstrations, calling for politicians to take urgent action.
Moctar Kamara, 42, the Africa Council's president, said that "non-whites" were being targeted in particular parts of the country and that fans attending the World Cup in June needed to be warned.
He said: "Black people here are facing racist assaults ranging from verbal insults to murder. There are areas where non-whites are simply not safe, not even to use public transport.
"That is why we are warning the thousands of football fans who are coming to Germany without knowing what could happen if they go into the wrong areas. We will set up a website and distribute brochures with all the necessary information, including maps of the no-go areas and lists of pubs, clubs and other establishments that have a history of racist incidents.
"We feel it is a necessary measure for the safety not only of visitors from Africa, like the supporters of Tunisia, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast or Angola, but also for the many fans of various ethnic background who will travel from the UK and other countries. Local authorities have not supported us in any way, but we have received generous support from the African community in the UK."
Areas in Berlin that Mr Kamara believes are dangerous include the districts of Hellersdorf-Marzahn, Koepenick and Pankow, and the streets around the railway stations Ostkreuz and Lichtenberg. But he said the situation was much worse in regions of the former East Germany, especially in the states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, where far-Right and neo-Nazi ideology was on the rise, particularly among unemployed youths.
None of the England team's scheduled first-round fixtures will take place in areas highlighted on the council's map, but matches featuring teams from Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador and Tunisia will all be staged in Berlin.
The council's initiative has, however, provoked protests among local officials, who are upset at allegations that certain communities are more xenophobic than others. The council has not publicly named other cities apart from Berlin which it plans to highlight as dangerous. However, the Saxony city of Leipzig, which is hosting World Cup matches, is thought to be among them.
Anja Trojahn, a spokesman for the police in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, said: "There are xenophobic incidents, but they happen everywhere. I do not know why Mr Kamara picked our state as the worst example."
Frank Henkel, the interior affairs expert of the ruling Christian Democratic Union, deemed the no-go areas a "nonsense and causing panic", while a Berlin police spokesman said that there were "no no-go areas in Berlin".
Mr Kamara said politicians were trying to ignore the problem. "The majority of victims of racism are outside the statistics, as African people often do not dare to go to the police. Violent assaults motivated by racist hatred are therefore registered as 'normal' incidents."
To prove its claims, the council is planning a press conference, with witnesses and victims of racist assaults, at the end of this week.
According to the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the number of incidents linked to far-Right extremism rose from 12,000 in 2004 to 15,000 in 2005. The number of violent Right-wing extremists is estimated to be more than 10,000.
Yonas Endrias, the vice-president of the International Human Rights League, one of Germany's oldest human rights groups, said: "We fully support the initiative of the Africa Council. There are places in eastern Germany where black people are not safe if they go out after dark."
Stephan Eiermann, the spokesman for the German World Cup Committee in Frankfurt said: "We have heard about the no-go areas guide but have not seen it yet, therefore we cannot comment."
352
Football / Tomorrow in the Daily Mail UK - How Jack Warner turned FIFA into a cash cow
« on: May 01, 2006, 06:41:26 AM »
Now reading The Daily Mail papers in the UK there and they have a big spread scandal article on Blatter and corruption in FIFA. Actually an excerpt from Andrew Jennings book, "Foul".
At the bottom of the article, there is a big caption for an article to break tomorrow titled, "How Jack Warner turned FIFA into a cash cow".
At the bottom of the article, there is a big caption for an article to break tomorrow titled, "How Jack Warner turned FIFA into a cash cow".
353
Football / Which player is the biggest underachiever in the history of T&T football?
« on: April 22, 2006, 08:14:44 AM »
Who is that one player who you've always felt that given their skill and abilities, should have made it so much further in football.
Regardless of the mitigating circumstances; be it poor attitude, lack of support, laziness, background, issues or just poor luck; which one of these players do you feel has never lived up to their full potential?
Regardless of the mitigating circumstances; be it poor attitude, lack of support, laziness, background, issues or just poor luck; which one of these players do you feel has never lived up to their full potential?
354
Football / Looking for cheap London - Prague flights for TT game on June 3rd...
« on: April 21, 2006, 03:52:38 AM »
best price i'm seeing is £112 return on czech airlines....
is anyone going and knows of a cheaper alternative?
is anyone going and knows of a cheaper alternative?
355
Football / Chris Birchall: From Burslem to Dortmund
« on: April 18, 2006, 09:21:48 AM »
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4918836.stm
BBC Sport.
Chris Birchall reveals he is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that his World Cup dream is less than two months away.
Birchall, 21, is one of the lesser-known British-based players who will be under the spotlight in June.
The Stafford-born midfielder plays for Port Vale, who have spent the majority of their history in England's lower divisions.
But, come June, he will swap the quiet surroundings of Burslem - one of the six towns that comprise Stoke-on-Trent - for Germany, where Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup adventure begins against Sweden in Dortmund.
They then face a much-anticipated game with England - from where they draw many of their players - five days later.
"It still feels bizarre but I can't wait," Birchall told BBC Sport.
"This time last year it was just about to start - as I made my debut in May and it has just roller-coastered from there.
"From when I started, it was just an experience to be there. I never thought we would get to the World Cup - it has been a dream."
Birchall qualifies for Trinidad and Tobago through his mother, who was born in Port of Spain - and he played a large part in the Soca Warriors' qualification, scoring a vital equaliser in the first leg of their play-off with Bahrain.
Trinidad and Tobago announce World Cup squad
Although his domestic season with Port Vale looks set for a quiet mid-table finish, there will be no let-up for the squad, whose European-based players will be clocking up plenty of air miles before the tournament starts.
"I want to play well for Vale in the last three games and get a good send-off from the gaffer and the fans," Birchall explained.
"But my season here ends on 6 May, then we will be flying straight out as we meet up in 8 May in Trinidad, and we have a game against Peru on 10 May.
"It's a busy schedule as we go back to Trinidad, then back to England for a camp, then to Austria for a camp and then on to Germany.
"It's a massive five weeks but the coach Leo Beenhakker knows what he's doing as he has managed some of the top teams in the world and he will get us ready in the right frame of mind."
Although Birchall is the first white player to have represented the islands for 20 years, he is not alone in flying the flag for England's lower divisions in Beenhakker's provisional 24-man squad, which was announced on 13 April
"We all get on well. I keep in contact with Ian Cox and Brent Sancho - they're good pals who are doing well at the moment at Gillingham," he said.
"Also, Stern John is scoring goals at Coventry, Kenwyne Jones has come on at Southampton and we're all getting games. Touch wood, none of us will get injured before the end of the season.
"It was a relief for those of us that play in England when the squad was named, as it hasn't really changed - he hasn't brought in any new players, apart from Tony Rougier who used to play here at Vale."
Beenhakker's side will gain more attention than many of the other first-timers in the World Cup, after being drawn in England's group.
But either side of that eagerly-awaited meeting, they will also face Sweden and Paraguay - and Birchall is already plotting his country's progress.
"My ambitions are to play the best I can, and hopefully get through the group," he stated.
It will be close - you don't get teams thrashing each other 7-0 or 8-0 at the World Cup any more.
"Hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves, but if we have a good game against Sweden, then who knows?
"Even if we lose against England, it will all depend on the last game against Paraguay, as four points could get you through the group."
Birchall is also pleased to have acquired a degree of respect from his Vale team-mates since his international career began.
"I used to get plenty of stick from the lads when I first went over," he added. "They would say 'Why are you going over? You'll never qualify!'
"But to be fair, they have been great, they have wished me all the best and are now asking me for tickets all the time!"
Trinidad is the smallest country to reach the 2006 finals - boasting a population of just 1.3 million - but expect celebrations in Burslem if they can cause the upset they seek
BBC Sport.
Chris Birchall reveals he is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that his World Cup dream is less than two months away.
Birchall, 21, is one of the lesser-known British-based players who will be under the spotlight in June.
The Stafford-born midfielder plays for Port Vale, who have spent the majority of their history in England's lower divisions.
But, come June, he will swap the quiet surroundings of Burslem - one of the six towns that comprise Stoke-on-Trent - for Germany, where Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup adventure begins against Sweden in Dortmund.
They then face a much-anticipated game with England - from where they draw many of their players - five days later.
"It still feels bizarre but I can't wait," Birchall told BBC Sport.
"This time last year it was just about to start - as I made my debut in May and it has just roller-coastered from there.
"From when I started, it was just an experience to be there. I never thought we would get to the World Cup - it has been a dream."
Birchall qualifies for Trinidad and Tobago through his mother, who was born in Port of Spain - and he played a large part in the Soca Warriors' qualification, scoring a vital equaliser in the first leg of their play-off with Bahrain.
Trinidad and Tobago announce World Cup squad
Although his domestic season with Port Vale looks set for a quiet mid-table finish, there will be no let-up for the squad, whose European-based players will be clocking up plenty of air miles before the tournament starts.
"I want to play well for Vale in the last three games and get a good send-off from the gaffer and the fans," Birchall explained.
"But my season here ends on 6 May, then we will be flying straight out as we meet up in 8 May in Trinidad, and we have a game against Peru on 10 May.
"It's a busy schedule as we go back to Trinidad, then back to England for a camp, then to Austria for a camp and then on to Germany.
"It's a massive five weeks but the coach Leo Beenhakker knows what he's doing as he has managed some of the top teams in the world and he will get us ready in the right frame of mind."
Although Birchall is the first white player to have represented the islands for 20 years, he is not alone in flying the flag for England's lower divisions in Beenhakker's provisional 24-man squad, which was announced on 13 April
"We all get on well. I keep in contact with Ian Cox and Brent Sancho - they're good pals who are doing well at the moment at Gillingham," he said.
"Also, Stern John is scoring goals at Coventry, Kenwyne Jones has come on at Southampton and we're all getting games. Touch wood, none of us will get injured before the end of the season.
"It was a relief for those of us that play in England when the squad was named, as it hasn't really changed - he hasn't brought in any new players, apart from Tony Rougier who used to play here at Vale."
Beenhakker's side will gain more attention than many of the other first-timers in the World Cup, after being drawn in England's group.
But either side of that eagerly-awaited meeting, they will also face Sweden and Paraguay - and Birchall is already plotting his country's progress.
"My ambitions are to play the best I can, and hopefully get through the group," he stated.
It will be close - you don't get teams thrashing each other 7-0 or 8-0 at the World Cup any more.
"Hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves, but if we have a good game against Sweden, then who knows?
"Even if we lose against England, it will all depend on the last game against Paraguay, as four points could get you through the group."
Birchall is also pleased to have acquired a degree of respect from his Vale team-mates since his international career began.
"I used to get plenty of stick from the lads when I first went over," he added. "They would say 'Why are you going over? You'll never qualify!'
"But to be fair, they have been great, they have wished me all the best and are now asking me for tickets all the time!"
Trinidad is the smallest country to reach the 2006 finals - boasting a population of just 1.3 million - but expect celebrations in Burslem if they can cause the upset they seek
356
Football / Add Paulo Ferreira name to the list of Ronaldinho victims which reads like....
« on: March 08, 2006, 08:19:21 AM »
After the cap and spanner he take last night, he can be added to this illustrious list...
1. Michel Salgado - after taking a brutal furry cap last year and countless abuse
2. Ivan Helguera - with that perennial long face after getting leave out
3. Sergio Ramos - famous for always lying down after taking de beat
4. Ashley Cole - never truly recovered from that fan in the last world cup
5. Glen Johnson - feel sorry for him having to deal with eto'o too
6. About 3 athletic bilbao defenders - all who get cap several times
Any further additions?
1. Michel Salgado - after taking a brutal furry cap last year and countless abuse
2. Ivan Helguera - with that perennial long face after getting leave out
3. Sergio Ramos - famous for always lying down after taking de beat
4. Ashley Cole - never truly recovered from that fan in the last world cup
5. Glen Johnson - feel sorry for him having to deal with eto'o too
6. About 3 athletic bilbao defenders - all who get cap several times
Any further additions?