572
« on: August 16, 2005, 10:19:05 AM »
Beenhakker still believes in Trinidad dream
By Chris Cowles (Reuters)
Leo Beenhakker's 40 years of coaching experience has taught him that anything is possible in soccer, even guiding Trinidad & Tobago to the World Cup finals for the first time.
It would, however, be an astonishing feat if the 62-year-old Dutchman can guide the Caribbean island nation into the next year's showpiece in Germany.
When he replaced Bertille St Clair in April the team was in a state of disarray, languishing bottom of the final CONCACAF qualifying group with only one point from three games.
They now face the United States in East Hartford, Connecticut on Wednesday with a fighting chance of finishing third or fourth in the six-team group.
The top three qualify automatically for Germany with the fourth-placed team playing off against an Asian side.
Going into Wednesday's sixth round of the 10 CONCACAF qualifiers, Mexico lead the group with 13 points, followed by the U.S. on 12 while Costa Rica have seven. Trinidad and Guatemala have four and Panama two.
"I think the first two places will go to Mexico and the U.S." Beenhakker, who has coached Real Madrid and Ajax Amsterdam, told Reuters on Tuesday.
"We're in the same situation as Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala. Our intention is to finish third or get that fourth-place spot. It's within our grasp."
SO CLOSE
The World Cup finals were with Trinidad and Tobago's grasp once before when they needed just a home draw against the U.S. in 1989 to qualify for the finals in Italy the following year.
However a 1-0 defeat ended that dream and the side has never been as close since.
One man who played in that game as a 17-year-old and will face the U.S. again as a veteran on Wednesday is former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, now in the twilight of his playing career in Australia.
"We need a couple of results," he said. "We know what we have to do in the next few games, but we feel very much alive in the whole competition."
Recalled to the team this year, Yorke, who now plays for Sydney FC in the Australian A-League, also believes in the dream like Beenhakker.
"A good result against America will take us a long way," said Yorke. "There's no secret to it, we must win at home, but the U.S. could have a bad game.
"The guys believe in themselves, we think we can do it and qualify."
Show Posts