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Football / Player Profile - Jason Scotland

« on: June 04, 2006, 12:37:08 PM »

Sky Sports

Two-footed pacey striker who was largely a fringe member of the Trinidad and Tobago squad that reached the finals.

He won his first T&T cap under Ian Porterfield in a World Cup qualifier in November 2000 but despite being twice the top scorer in the Trinidad Pro League started just five internationals over the next three years.

"He makes the type of angles you don’t see from Scottish players. He strikes the ball with both feet."
Ex-Dundee United manager Ian McCall

He has admitted that his laid back personality in training has not always helped his relationships with coaches and Brazilian Rene Simoes never picked him while Stuart Charles-Fevrier left him on the sidelines for large chunks of his tenure.

His excellent form for San Juan Jabloteh and latterly Defence Force plus a brace in a friendly for his country against Dundee earned him a move to the SPL for the 2003/04 season with Dundee United.

But because of the club's tendency to use him as a substitute, he was forced to move to St Johnstone last summer after being denied a work permit to extend his two-year stay at Tannadice.

He made a sprinkling of appearances throughout the qualifying campaign, and come off the bench in the first leg of the Asian-CONCACAF play-off, but the last of his five international goals came nearly two years ago.

2006 World Cup - Germany / Outcry as MPs given free World Cup tickets - England

« on: June 04, 2006, 12:20:18 PM »

Outcry as MPs given free World Cup tickets
(Filed: 04/06/2006)
Telegraph

MPs have defended the decision of the House of Commons football team to accept free World Cup tickets from the fast-food giant McDonald's.

McDonald's - an official tournament sponsor - said it had supplied 23 tickets to the team of MPs and researchers for the game against Paraguay in Frankfurt.

But fans' groups criticised the move - complaining that thousands of ordinary fans had been unable to attend because of the lack of public tickets.

The £70 tickets received by the MPs command the best view of the Frankfurt pitch and are fetching up to £1,000 on the black market.

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington and a member of the parliamentary football club, said the team was travelling to Germany to play two charity matches, and individuals had paid all their own travel and accommodation expenses.

He said: "I've been a season ticket holder for Manchester City for 22 years and I can safely say I'm a proper football fan.

"The tickets that have been provided for us would have been given out by McDonald's to somebody else, and I'm sure there's plenty of fans that would like to see the game as I would."

Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury and member of the all-party football group, told Sky News: "These people play a very important role in football. I do not think we should discriminate against politicians just because they are politicians.

"I would take them - the face value I would give to charity."

Kevin Miles, international co-ordinator of the Football Supporters Federation, said McDonald's had handed over the tickets to curry favour with the MPs and criticised the politicians for asking for them.

He also said today's revelations reflected a "chronic" problem in which Fifa distributed 40 per cent of World Cup tickets to sponsors, hospitality packages and non-competing football associations.

He said: "They've got the tickets because they're MPs, but the biggest crime is that McDonald's is in the position to give them out.

"They're doing it to buy themselves influence, let's make no mistake about it."

2006 World Cup - Germany / World Cup scouting for England

« on: June 04, 2006, 06:56:34 AM »

World Cup scouting for England
By Howard Nurse
BBC Sport online football editor at Old Trafford

England's final warm-up game before the World Cup ended in a convincing 6-0 win over Jamaica at Old Trafford.

Peter Crouch grabbed a hat-trick while Michael Owen and Frank Lampard also got on the scoresheet in a match which was manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's last on home soil.

BBC Sport finds out what the coach will have learned from the international friendly.

FORMATION & TACTICS

Exactly one week before the World Cup opener against Paraguay, coach Eriksson stopped tinkering and reverted to his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation.

Eriksson adopted an unfamiliar 4-1-4-1 system in the 3-1 victory over Hungary, but he knew Saturday against Jamaica was not the time for experimenting. It was the time for getting things right.

England striker's Michael Owen (left) and Peter Crouch are set to start in England's opening World Cup game against Paraguay
Owen and Crouch are a threat with their little and large partnership

Liverpool's Jamie Carragher switched to right-back in place of Gary Neville, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury, which, according to Eriksson has been troubling him "for a while", while Crouch partnered Owen in attack.

England rarely strayed away from 4-4-2 against a Jamaican side which was not afraid to stick the boot in on occasions and left a number of their opponents nursing bruised ankles and feet.

Eriksson put his faith in Owen playing off Crouch - and barring more injury disasters, that will be the front pairing against Paraguay in Frankfurt.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard looked more comfortable together in midfield. Gerrard appeared at ease playing a less expansive role, while Lampard pushed forward well and supported the strikers to good effect.

David Beckham and Joe Cole revelled in their wide midfield berths - with Beckham's dead ball delivery again proving world-class.

It was Crouch who took the plaudits with a man-of-the-match performance. Three goals and, had he not overdone the showboating with the penalty, it would have been four.

SVEN'S SUBSTITUTIONS

Predictably, Eriksson was keen to give as many players as possible a run out, but he had to introduce Sol Campbell when John Terry asked to come off because of a minor knee strain.

Ashley Cole was also forced off - with a thigh strain and had a precautionary scan afterwards - which gave Wayne Bridge a welcome opportunity.

Both Campbell and Bridge did well, barely putting a foot wrong and showing that England have decent cover at the back should injuries occur in Germany.

David James had a second-half without alarm, and like Paul Robinson in the first period, pulled off a couple of smart saves but Jamaica were never allowed to mount a serious close-range attack in the well-marshalled England penalty box.

England captain David Beckham
Beckham's delivery has been nothing short of immaculate in the last two games

Aaron Lennon, Michael Carrick and Stewart Downing also had a taste of the action late on with Lennon looking good on the right, while Carrick did himself no harm with a calm cameo in the holding role.

Eriksson chose not to give the 70,000-plus crowd an opportunity to see teenager Theo Walcott in action.

The decision to give both Crouch and Owen 90 minutes together was a good one and probably already decided before kick-off.

In Manchester, on a glorious June afternoon, the England coach picked the 11 players whom he plans to start against Paraguay.

There was no chance for Owen Hargreaves. Despite earning rave reviews playing in a deep midfield role for Bayern Munich, there is no appetite from England's followers to see him on the field. Maybe the penny has finally dropped with Sven.

Owen struggled against Hungary but here he was much better, a fact acknowledged by Eriksson, who claimed the Newcastle striker was now fully fit.

Crouch carried on from where he left off against Hungary and he has established himself as a key member of the side.

The Liverpool man always looked comfortable. His control and passing were both immaculate for a man so tall and his link play was particularly eye-catching.

Eriksson was quick to point out that he had criticised Crouch in the dressing room for casually chipping his penalty over the crossbar.

The England coach rightly felt Crouch had not taken the moment seriously enough and had taken the penalty in a "joke" way and wasted the chance to both score and to properly practice taking a spot-kick in a match situation as opposed to on the training pitch.

ENGLAND EXTRAS

There is no more time to find out answers to any remaining questions. It's for real now.

So what did we learn from Saturday's stroll in the sunshine?

# There are no worries going into the tournament about goalkeeper Paul Robinson. He's a great shot-stopper, commands his box and is comfortable with crosses.

# Ashley Cole has played himself into form at the right time after missing so much of the domestic season for Arsenal.

# Jamie Carragher is more than adequate standing in at right-back.

# Rio Ferdinand is back to his best and John Terry is also at the top of his form.

# Steven Gerrard is ready to try to win the World Cup for England. He was outstanding and has such an enormous appetite to do well for the Three Lions. He seemed content playing in a slightly deeper role than for Liverpool and with Frank Lampard bombing forward when he could, the pair can live up to the sum of their parts.

# David Beckham has stopped under-hitting corners. His delivery of corners and free-kicks is as good as anybody who will be in Germany - something that's vital to England's cause.

# As unlikely as it would have been this time last year, in Peter Crouch, England suddenly have a new striking hero. He has achieved a cult following, thanks mainly to his robotic goal celebration, although he did not dare do it when he scored his third goal some minutes after the penalty miss.

# Michael Owen - on the face of it anyway - answered the doubts surrounding his fitness. Another week of training and the hitman should be close to 100% ready.

# Sven-Goran Eriksson has taken charge of his final England match at home.

WORLD CUP VERDICT

It was no coincidence that England should play a team from the Caribbean for their final World Cup warm-up match.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson
Eriksson enjoyed his send-off from the Old Trafford crowd

The second Group B match in Germany is against Trinidad and Tobago and Eriksson expects their style to be similar to that of Jamaica's.

A big positive was England's improvement when it came to keeping the ball. While Jamaica had a couple of decent 10-minute spells, England were largely in command and did not slip into bad habits by squandering possession.

England scored six and could easily have had more. Some of the build-up play for the goals was world-class and left Jamaica chasing shadows.

Eriksson is convinced Gerrard and Lampard can play together and gets annoyed when journalists suggest otherwise.

The Swede said he "cannot believe" the doubters, insisting the pair have only played badly together on one occasion - during the shambolic defeat in Northern Ireland when the whole team played pathetically.

England must not play Owen as a lone striker. Crouch (given Rooney's absence) must start alongside him - and will next Saturday.

So can England win the World Cup?

Eriksson thinks so: "We need to play very good football, defend and attack well, have some luck, suffer no more injuries and have fair referees."

One vital question remains though.

If England are to go all the way, then the out-going Eriksson must be bold and not allow games to drift or ebb away if things aren't going to plan.

If the coach can get it right, then England might just have a chance.

2006 World Cup - Germany / England's Rivals: Trinidad & Tobago: Amazing pace and power of Scotland

« on: June 03, 2006, 08:27:12 PM »

England's Rivals: Trinidad & Tobago: Amazing pace and power of Scotland
By Phil Gordon
Published: 04 June 2006
The Independent

North of Hadrian's Wall, it is the stuff of dreams: Scotland knocking England out of the World Cup. For Jason Scotland, turning fantasy into reality might earn him undying gratitude from his adopted country - not bad for a player who could not get a work permit to remain in Britain.

The Soca Warriors are an eclectic bunch, drawn from all parts of these islands - from Wrexham to the Potteries - yet the gifted Scotland, who had more right than most to be part of Trinidad and Tobago's biggest sporting story, would still be sitting back at home if it had not been for the persistence of the St Johnstone manager, Owen Coyle.

The former Bolton striker was dumbfounded when Scotland was refused permission last year to stay at Dundee United by the Home Office and a Premier League tribunal. Scotland's world collapsed. He packed his bags, but Coyle persuaded the pacy forward to sign for the First Division side, who then submitted a new permit claim, which was accepted.

Scotland rewarded Coyle with 15 goals as top scorer, and with T & T enduring a wretched sequence of friendly defeats, the St Johnstone manager feels Scotland - one of six Trinnies earning a living north of the border - could be Leo Beenhakker's secret weapon. "Jason has amazing pace and is composed in front of goal, and I don't think he'll let his country down."

Scotland felt a sense of injustice at being told by the Home Office he was "not of the highest calibre" given that the first of his 25 caps came six years ago. But he has gone from outcast to cause célèbre. His face adorns billboards advertising Irn Bru - "Scotland's Other National Drink" - and the striker senses a Caledonian conversion to the Caribbean cause. "Every time I meet people they wish me luck and insist I do my best against England," he said. "This is my second home now."

Football / Beenhakker positive in loss

« on: June 03, 2006, 08:06:04 PM »

Beenhakker positive in loss

Czech Republic 3 / Trinidad and Tobago 0
Stephen Morissey at Toota Arena
Sunday Herald

You had to admire the attitude of Trinidad and Tobago’s Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, if little else, after this comprehensive defeat for his Soca Warriors.

With their World Cup finals debut just a week away, a third consecutive friendly defeat – this time to the consistently crafty Czech Republic – would be enough to make most managers a mite tetchy. Not so the phlegmatic doyen of the Caribbean side.

“My players are not used to this way of football, to football they especially play here in Europe,” said the Beenhaaker, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a large portion of his side play for clubs in Great Britain – that oft-forgotten segment of the continent.“It's much more faster and much more physical than they're normally used in their clubs.

“But I prefer to have the problems now ... I prefer that [my players] are surprised now instead of next week after the Sweden match.”

The man makes a fine point but after losing 2-1 to Wales and 3-1 to Slovenia, avoiding defeat here would have brought succour ahead of their opening match against experienced operators Sweden. Ultimately, though, stemming the flow of Czech goals after three was a good afternoon’s work for his one-paced and ageing side.

Under pressure from the off, the only real opportunity for the visitors’ came on the counter in the early stages, when Stern John managed to force Chelsea custodian Petr Cech into a blocking save. That apart, the hosts dominated – aided by some inept defending, a fact Beenhakker admitted.

“They scored the goals and we prepared the goals,” he said, adding his team still has a chance to improve. “I can assure you we've learned a lot. If it's enough, we will see.”

Rangers new signing Libor Sionko played a half after being called into the Czech squad as a replacement for the injured Vladimir Smicer but it was Jan Koller, recently returned after a season-long hiatus with a knee problem, who stole the show for the hosts.

The veteran striker – the heaviest player in the 32 finals squads and taller than Peter Crouch – scored twice and set up another in a dominant display. Just six minutes had elapsed when the Czech Republic's all-time leading scorer nodded in a delicious Karel Poborsky cross to break the seal on the contest and by the mid-point of the half, he offered colleague Pavel Nedved the opportunity to add to the goalscoring.

Collecting the ball from Milan Baros with his back to goal inside the area, he flicked a precise pass to Nedved, who volleyed past diving goalkeeper Kelvin Jack.

Koller’s second, five minutes from half-time, was the pick of the bunch. Nedved started the action, releasing Poborsky, and when he crossed low, the striker ended the contest.

04 June 2006

Football / Why is the World Cup bigger than any American sporting event?

« on: June 02, 2006, 01:29:10 PM »

Why is the World Cup bigger than any American sporting event?
FOX SPORTS

Outside of America, one sport dominates the globe in terms of exposure, money, participation and passion — that sport is football, also known as soccer. It is so big it's almost impossible to categorize, however, here are a few examples that will give you an idea as to why it is called the 'World's Game.'

First, soccer is the easiest sport in the world to play — you don't even need any equipment! That's right, no equipment. Let me explain. For the majority of its participants, soccer is a working-class sport and if you don't have a ball, a bundle of rags will do. Cleats? Who needs them? Look at the popularity of beach soccer. Trash cans for goal posts, alleyways for fields, shirts versus skins for uniforms. It is all inclusive.

Second, unlike American sports, there is no need to be a physical specimen. The two greatest players of all time were not even 6 footers — Pele was 5-foot-10, Diego Maradona was 5-foot-7. Just go to your local park and watch the kids playing soccer, they come in all shapes and size, which is the beauty of the sport, anybody can play, watch and identify.

In December of 2005 the draw for the World Cup finals was made in Leipzig, Germany. Without a ball actually being kicked more than 350 million people tuned in via their television sets while millions more followed the proceedings over the Internet just to see who their country would be paired with. America's biggest event, the Super Bowl, is watched by less than 100 million people, stateside.

The last World Cup in South Korea and Japan were watched by a cumulative audience of ... wait for it, a staggering 28.8 billion people, while the final itself between Brazil and Germany attracted 1.1 billion viewers, the largest TV audience in sporting history. By the way, these figures only account for home viewing so when you take into account the number of fans in bars and restaurants it would be much higher.

Rivalries and politics play a huge part in the World Cup. If you think that the Red Sox-Yankees or Bears-Packers is hot just wait until you're in the stands when England takes on Argentina. It becomes more than a game of soccer, it takes on it's very on identity, is a source of incredible patriotism and at times rampant xenophobia. With so much history at stake, a loss can send a country into mourning.

There are already some huge matches in the first round of this World Cup that will push emotions and nationalistic fever to the limit :

6/11 Angola v Portugal: Portugal colonized Angola.
6/14 Germany v Poland: WW II and all that entails.
6/21 Argentina v Holland: The rubber match between two great soccer powers.
6/22 Australia v Croatia: Half the Australian squad is of Croatian descent.

Here are some ther matchups that have an earth shattering appeal and that we could see depending on how teams advance:

England v Germany: Historically joined at the hip.
Brazil v Argentina: Hatred is too mild of a word for these two South American neighbors.
Japan v South Korea: Occupation always stirs up some fond memories.
Serbia & Montenegro v Croatia: The wounds are still fresh

As you can see, soccer, thankfully, has replaced warfare. However, down on the pitch these rivalries not only entice the participating countries but are mouthwatering for the rest of the world. With the break up of the old Soviet Union, the U.S. no longer has that mortal sporting enemy, although should the stars align and Bruce Arena's lads face Iran, things could get quite tasty.

Passions between England and Argentina boiled over at the 1998 World Cup in France, when David Beckham was served a red card for taking out Argentina's Diego Simeone. (Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images)

What we're getting at here is that the World Cup is not necessarily about entertainment, unlike American sports. Sure, the neutrals amongst us want to see great games. But the bottom line is winning. If you were a Brazilian on Copacabana Beach in 1994, the fact that Italy was only defeated on penalty kicks in the final didn't even enter the equation as the entire country went ballistic with joy.

In the World Cup there aren't any cheerleaders on the sidelines to amuse when the play is slow. There is no PA announcer telling the crowd to make some noise. There is no dramatic music as the ball moves up the pitch. All the noise is generated by the crowd — it's organic and it comes from a place deep in your heart because of the intense love and pride that you have for your country. Now don't get me wrong, Americans love their country as much as anybody else, however the vehicle to express that passion can only be found in this four-year extravaganza.

A famous coach named Bill Shankly once said the following when asked if football is more important than life and death: "Listen, it's more important than that." Shankly, on occasions, lived to regret those words as the sport has had more than its fair share of tragedies. But if you asked soccer fans from around the world what they'd give for their country to win the World Cup, you'd be shocked by their replies.

Finally, one more oft heard quote "sports and politics should not mix," doesn't relate with the World Cup, as it frequently occurs, unlike in American sports. This is why the World Cup is the grand daddy of them all and dwarfs all other sports including the Olympic Games.

Football / T&T BASED - Lime @ TGI tomorrow from 11 am to watch the T&T vs Chec Rep Friendly

« on: June 02, 2006, 01:20:42 PM »

HI All,

WN and SW.net members. Come down to TGI tomorrows @ 11am to watch the T&T vs Chec Republic game. Lets get together and lime and have a good time.. Lets get together and represent for our Warriors , sw.net, and the WN.

Dress Code : Warrior Nation Juzzy, or any thing red

oconnorg
Regional Head - T&T
www.thewarriornation.com

Football / France confident to avoid repeat of 2002 fiasco

« on: June 02, 2006, 06:48:56 AM »

France confident to avoid repeat of 2002 fiasco
By Patrick Vignal - Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) - France, in a much better mood than before their 2002 World Cup fiasco, are determined to restore pride in Germany and their recent form suggests they might.

A goalkeeping spat and negative headlines have failed to spoil the atmosphere in the French camp and several players have said they have a much better feeling than before the previous campaign.

"I don't want to talk about the past too much but I can say things are different," midfielder Patrick Vieira said this week.

"There is an excellent atmosphere in the team. This is a new group with many new players. We're starting a new adventure and we all believe it will be a great one."

What Vieira and company want to avoid at any cost is what happened in 2002 when France, then the defending champions, were sent packing after failing to win a match in the group stage and could not even score a goal.

From the outside, French preparations for this World Cup have been all but smooth.

Coach Raymond Domenech argued with his reserve goalkeeper, Gregory Coupet, who cannot accept being number two behind Fabien Barthez. So upset was Coupet that he briefly left France's camp in the French Alps last week before deciding to return.

"It's easy to understand Greg's frustration," said defender Lilian Thuram.

"It's a good thing it happened early in our preparations. Had it lasted, it could have got worse and damaged the atmosphere in the squad."

KEEP SMILING

Then came whistles and boos from the Stade de France crowd for the coach and several players during last Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over Mexico.

Domenech had been criticised before that for saving his first comments for one of the team's sponsors, a mobile phone operator, after unveiling his World Cup squad last month.

The fact that his partner is a sports journalist for a television channel who has access to the team even when other media are barred from getting close also earned the coach headlines he could have lived without.

Despite all that, the players keep smiling and appear to be making progress on the pitch.

France looked promising in their penultimate outing before the World Cup, offering a convincing show to beat Denmark 2-0 on Wednesday in Lens.

The previous time they had met Denmark, France had lost 2-0 to disappear from the last World Cup.

If Zinedine Zidane, who has looked sluggish lately, can recapture his brilliant best for his final encore and if Franck Ribery lives up to his tag as the exciting future of French football, France can justifiably feel optimistic.

"We're not the favourites, that's Brazil, but we're strong outsiders with the team we have," said Vieira.

"I believe we can go all the way."

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Football / South Korea pins World Cup hopes on Park Ji-sung

« on: June 02, 2006, 04:10:05 AM »

South Korea pins World Cup hopes on Park Ji-sung
(AP)

SEOUL, South Korea -- Park Ji-sung used to sleep with a soccer ball, back when he was in school.

His father would trawl frog farms each fall to make a medicine that was thought to boost young boys' growth.

Now, the South Korea midfielder towers over soccer in his homeland, carrying the dreams of a nation on his shoulders ahead of his second World Cup.

The 25-year-old Park has already made 58 international appearances in seven years. He played in all of South Korea's seven games at the 2002 World Cup as the co-hosts surprisingly advanced to the semifinals.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was so impressed with Park's fitness and ability to weave in from the left wing that he signed him last July -- making him the first South Korean to play in the English Premier League.

Park has come a long way since his early days at PSV Eindhoven, where he transferred after the World Cup, and expects to showcase his newly honed skills in Germany.

"When I was in the Netherlands, I was ignored by fans and humiliated, and people forgot I existed," Park told a South Korean newspaper last month. "I think I've become more accurate, and calm. I'm less excited in front of the ball. And I have more confidence on the field."

With South Korea earning eight wins and three losses in 14 games under coach Dick Adovcaat, confidence in the team has surged and Park has become the epicenter of the nation's soccer hopes.

Dubbed "50 percent of the World Cup team" by local media, Park said the pressure doesn't get to him.

"I don't think about it, I just try and concentrate on training," he said.

Park said the squad is better-equipped now than it was in 2002, with five Europe-based players and 10 veterans from the last tournament, but that it lacks cohesion. Before the last tournament, the players were subject to a military style training regime from March.

"In 2002, we were more systematic, but we still have a few days left to train so I think we have enough time to improve our team. We have more experienced players now," Park said.

Park scored the winner against Portugal last time and contributed to South Korea's penalty shootout win over Spain. He scored twice in warmup matches against England and France the same year.

Former South Korea coach Guus Hiddink took Park to PSV in December 2002 along with teammate Lee Young-pyo. After a disappointing first season, Park won over skeptical fans and later scored in the Champions League semifinals against AC Milan in 2005. The Dutch side went on to win both the league and cup.

Never a particularly prolific goal-scorer, Park has only found the back of the net once since the last World Cup for a total of five international goals. He has scored twice for Manchester United, including one against Arsenal. He also scored 13 in 76 appearances for Japan league team Kyoto from 2000-02 and 13 in 64 showings for PSV.

What he does bring to the South Korean team is experience, speed and dogged perseverance.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has openly admired Park's pace, and Ferguson has given him increasing play in a variety of midfield roles. Nonetheless, his lack of confidence in front of the goal and tendency to pass to teammates Wayne Rooney, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha rather than take the initiative has some critics claiming he's not up to Premier League class.

Park became an iconic figure at home before entering the Premier League, with his popularity closely mirrored but unmatched by former PSV teammate Lee, who later moved to Tottenham.

Park confirmed his dominance recently by stealing a ball from Lee near the area in their first Premier League head-to-head and setting up United's winning goal

Football / Four total football coaches at World Cup

« on: June 01, 2006, 10:37:27 PM »

Four total football coaches at World Cup
India Times

Dutch coach Marco van Basten would like nothing better than to surpass the achievements of Rinus Michels who led the Netherlands to the World Cup final with his Total Football, the last time the tournament was held on German soil in 1974.

And that's exactly what Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker and Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and Dutch coach Dick Advocaat would like to do too.

Realistically only van Basten, the coach of the Netherlands, has a chance of even matching Michels' achievements of 32 years ago, but Beenhakker (Trinidad & Tobago), Hiddink (Australia) and Advocaat (South Korea) â€” all arrive in Germany optimistic they can get the best possible results for their adopted countries.

Only Brazil will be parading more coaches than the Dutch at the finals with five sitting in the technical areas in charge of Brazil (Carlos Alberto Parreira), Portugal (Luiz Felipe Scolari), Costa Rica (Alexandre Guimaraes), Japan (Zico) and Saudi Arabia (Marcs Paqueta).

However, unlike the Brazilians, all four Dutch coaches have at one time been coach of their national side with Beenhakker leading the Netherlands into the 1990 finals when they went out in the second round.

Advocaat took charge of the team from 1992-94 reaching the quarterfinals in USA '94. Hiddink had four years in charge from 1994-98 when the Dutch reached the semi-finals in France, while Advocaat had two years at the helm from 2002-04 after the Dutch had already been eliminated in the qualifiers for the last World Cup in Asia.

Van Basten, by far the youngest of the quartet at just 42, is now in a strong position to go one better than all his predecessors and succeed the â€˜father' of all of them â€” the peerless Michels, the architect of â€˜Total Football', who died in March 2005 at the age of 77. Van Basten steered the Dutch into the finals with an unbeaten record from a very tough qualifying group that included Romania and the Czech Republic but ended with the Netherlands winning 10 of their 12 matches and drawing the other two.

The tournament also provides him with an ideal opportunity of erasing the bad memories when he was a player in Beenhakker's squad at Italia '90.

Beenhakker will also have a chance to flush away the bad taste of 16 years ago with his Trinidad & Tobago team who go to Germany delighted to be taking part in their first-ever finals.

For Hiddink, also responsible for the success of Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven this season and off to coach Russia after the finals, Germany represents his third consecutive World Cup.

In 1998 he took the Netherlands to the semis, repeating that feat with the Koreans. If he can do that with his Australian team this time around, he will have worked an even greater miracle. Still, Hiddink did not hesitate when he received a request from Down Under and accepted the challenge of steering Australia to only their second World Cup finals. Agencies

Football / Land Of Football

« on: June 01, 2006, 10:30:23 PM »

Land of football
Germany on the cheap
BC Pires World Cup diary
Trinidad Express

Friday, June 2nd 2006

BC Pires

THE moment you land at London's Heathrow airport, you're confronted with the World Cup in blatant and subtle ways. From the blatant perspective, the red cross of St Michael on the white background that constitutes the England flag is everywhere, including in every advertising hoarding that can figure out a way to tie a product to a football. The subtle differences are even more remarkable, when they sink in: you come off a flight from Trinidad, the hub of the illegal cocaine trading wheel, and the half-dozen policemen and sniffer-dogs that normally hound you down are conspicuously absent. Where you would normally find yourself explaining, repeatedly, "I give coffee as gifts, that's why I have so much, it's not to cover the scent of drugs", you're now walking with your two bags of smoked herring & buljol swinging.

Yes, the land that invented football is aware that England are in the World Cup with their best chance of winning since it was held at home 40 years ago. There are so many England flags everywhere, you'd be forgiven for thinking there was a competition for displaying the most. The same sort of car window-flags and bumper stickers you see in Trinidad & Tobago are also here, in about the same proportions. If ordinary people in the other 30 qualifying countries are doing this, too, you realise that some factory in China is making a killing.

But it's not just bumper stickers on cars here. In quiet residential areas, people wear their hearts on their sleeves and their flags in their drawing-room windows. Strangers may strike up a conversation with you if you wear a Soca Warriors T-shirt on the tube, though they quickly move from how nice it is to have Dwight Yorke's team in the World Cup to what a shame it is about Rooney, the first teenage player to demand world notice on this scale since Maradonna, and perhaps the first to be good enough to be named in the same sentence as the former great Argentine and still great Brasilian, Pele.

The participation in the World Cup theme is so pervasive in London, it makes you understand the opportunities in Trinidad & Tobago are actually being under-exploited. Every retail clothing outlet has rack after rack laden with scores of different T-shirt designs. You could get an England T-shirt so elegant you could wear it to the Queen's tea party or, off the same shelf, a punk rock version that would not embarrass you in Soho.

England's gone World Cup mad and it's showing in the clothing.

2006 World Cup - Germany / T&T, England fans to lime in Germany

« on: June 01, 2006, 09:52:25 PM »

T&T, England fans to lime in Germany
Thursday, June 1st 2006

On June 15, 2006, all eyes will be on the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg as Trinidad and Tobago takes on England in a much-anticipated World Cup 2006 clash. But get yourselves ready for a more unique battle as on the eve of that clash, fans from both countries will join fans from host country, Germany, in an atmosphere of camaraderie and fun as they engage in a fun game of cricket and other typical "Trini limes".

On June 14, 2006, at the WÃ¶hrder Wiese, a large tree-lined park that's only a 5-10 minute stroll from the centre of the Old Town of Nuremberg, fans from around the world will have the opportunity to experience a day-long Carnival. An onsite beer garden serving food and drink all day long will be dedicated to looking after guests from the various parts of the world looking to party.

In addition to the windball cricket fete matches, fans will be engaged in five-a-side football and the unique game of 'Kick Golf'. In what is carded to be a day of fun for the entire family, visitors from around the world will be treated to the music and culture of Trinidad and Tobago provided by a DJ, Steelband and carnival masqueraders. Additionally, fans from England and Trinidad and Tobago will have an opportunity to rehearse for the important Group B game. England fans will provide their unique style with some great football sounds, the England Band and a collection of good old-fashioned terrace favourites, while the vociferous Trinidad and Tobago supporters will show off their football support by means of a rhythm section and their unique chants in support of the Soca Warriors.

"This event gives the average fan from both Trinidad and Tobago and England the opportunity to show that Germany 2006 extends beyond the football pitch. It's about real people celebrating their differences and being united by a game they all love", adds Denzil Streete, vice president of the Soca Warriors Supporters Club, a passionate group of Trinidad and Tobago supporters from around the world that includes former world and Olympic sprint champion Ato Boldon. The Soca Warriors Supporters Club, also known as the Warrior Nation, comprises die-hard Soca Warrior fans who have been supporting the team long before World Cup qualification, and is the group behind the huge national flag which made its debut in Port-of-Spain for the recent international friendly against Peru. The flag will follow the Soca Warriors at the World Cup Finals in Germany.

To get involved in the June 14 event, visit www.unitedinnuremberg.com or www.thewarriornation.com, or call the Warrior Nation at 796-2758.

Football / Latapy grateful for World Cup support from Wales

« on: June 01, 2006, 09:34:51 PM »

Latapy grateful for World Cup support from Wales
By South Wales Echo

Russell Latapy believes he has the whole Scottish nation, and most of Wales too, behind the bid to make little Trinidad and Tobago the shock side of the World Cup finals.

The 37-year-old Falkirk forward, one of six Scottish-based players in the Trinidad and Tobago squad - who will be accompanied by Wrexham's Dennis Lawrence and former Racecourse Ground star Carlos Edwards - have had plenty of support from their adopted homes.

That might be connected to the fact they face England in Nuremberg on June 15.

Their Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker spells it out, saying: 'Come aboard, the more the merrier. We welcome Scottish and Welsh people backing us.'

Latapy, who has also had spells at Rangers and Hibernian, added: 'I do not know what England will think after watching us lose to Wales, it was on TV live back in the UK.

'But we can only concentrate on ourselves and try to do what the coach asks of us because we trust him 100 per cent.'

Football / FIFA makes doping tests to Brazilian players

« on: June 01, 2006, 09:22:14 PM »

FIFA makes doping tests to Brazilian players
(Xinhua)

FIFA doctors Thursday made a surprise visit to Brazil's training camp in Weggis, Switzerland for doping tests on four of its World Cup players.

Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni, defender Luisao, and midfielders Gilberto Silva and Juninho were picked randomly for the tests, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said.

FIFA said in March that all players participating in the World Cup could be subjected to surprise doping tests before and during the June 9-July 9 tournament in Germany.

The visit to Brazil's camp was headed by FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak.

Football / LEO HAS IT ALL TO DO - PA Sport

« on: June 01, 2006, 09:07:19 PM »

TOSHACK: LEO HAS IT ALL TO DO
By Paul Walker, PA Sport

John Toshack believes it will take a miracle for his old friend Leo Beenhakker to guide Trinidad and Tobago beyond the World Cup group stages.

The Wales boss used seven of his under-21 side, plus debutant goalkeepers Jason Brown and Glyn Garner, to secure a 2-1 friendly victory against the World Cup qualifiers in Graz, Austria on Saturday.

There were first caps too for Yeovil's Arron Davies and 16-year-old Gareth Bale from Southampton, and all told it was the most inexperienced side Wales have fielded in years.

But Trinidad and Tobago were still unable to claim a confidence-boosting win from a game shown live on television back in the UK, ahead of their World Cup showdown with England.

Toshack was being diplomatic as he saw troubles ahead for the Dutchman he once replaced as Real Madrid boss, a friend ever since.

Toshack said: "I know Leo well, I replaced him at Madrid, moved into his house and we have known each other ever since.

"He has been around a fair bit, he has managed top sides including Holland, Madrid and worked in Mexico. He knows what it is all about and he knows the problems Trinidad and Tobago will have.

"They are playing in a tough group, but he is a very experienced guy who knows his way around.

"They will try to give a good account of themselves, but it will be a major upset to qualify from their group. I do not fear for them, I cannot see them being turned over badly, but it will be very hard for them."

Toshack added: "From England's group you would certainly be surprised if Trinidad and Tobago did anything major. But you never can tell, even if your players are all playing (in the) Champions League. But that alone makes it even tougher for Trinidad.

"But you can never discount anyone, England will know they are favourites but they have to go out and do it. Paraguay first could be difficult for them, and then they may have to win at all costs second time out against Trinidad and Tobago.

"And if they get a hot day and England don't move the ball around as they should, you can find yourself being lulled into something you are not expecting.

"If you are not as good as you should be, you cannot just turn the tap on. Trinidad could keep possession and frustrate people so you can never discount teams. History has a habit of producing shocks, but realistically it will be a major, major surprise if they qualify."

And Toshack does not believe Beenhakker can take comfort from the performance of another Dutchman, Guus Hiddink, who took unfancied South Korea to the semi-finals in 2002.

Toshack says: "It will be more difficult for Leo. Hiddink made an impact in Korea, but that was different because they didn't have to qualify, he was on home soil and with them for six months solid beforehand.

"This is totally different, you look at the players Trinidad and Tobago have and they are not playing at a high level."

Football / Eastern European thugs pose World Cup threat - Reuters

« on: June 01, 2006, 08:55:25 PM »

Eastern European thugs pose World Cup threat
(Reuters)

WARSAW, June 1 - Tens of thousands of eastern Europeans head for the World Cup finals for the first time this year yet all eyes are on a tiny group of hooligans for whom the tournament is a first chance to make global headlines.

Foreign and local media have played up the threat of east against west hooligan battles with images of street clashes and promises from Polish gangs that they will cross the border armed with knives and axes to attack English and German fans.

Police, football associations and ordinary supporters in the region say the reports are overblown, but attempts to calm fears have been drowned out by a week of rioting at the end of the Polish league season and trouble with Croatian fans in World Cup qualifying.

"Everybody knows it may be a problem," lifelong Legia Warsaw fan Ziemek Dulinski told Reuters after an estimated 7,000 fans rioted in the Polish capital on May 13, smashing up cafes and bars and frightening tourists in the city's historic Old Town.

"I've been to almost every game this season, both home and away, and there hasn't been much trouble. But there are 70-80 psychopaths who just want to fight and when they start the rest follow, especially if it's with the police."

POLICE FAILINGS

Poland's ruling right won last September's election on a tough-on-crime platform, promising to crack down on hooligans after outbreaks of soccer-related violence during the campaign.

But police infrastructure is a long way behind foreign contemporaries, with few cameras at grounds and until recently no register other than the list of those with stadium bans to cover the more than 30,000 fans who will travel to Germany.

Regional forces are bidding to fill in the gaps by interviewing hundreds of supporters who won tickets in the Polish FA's draw, searching for potential troublemakers or those who may have passed tickets on.

But fans' groups say this sort of search is unlikely to yield much and that the hooligans will not have trouble going to Germany if they want to.

"For the hard core money or travelling is not a problem," said Kuba Zywko, who runs Legia Warsaw site legia.pl. "The question is will they want to go. Mostly they only care about fighting with other teams in Poland."

OVERBLOWN

Police say media have given exaggerated accounts of stabbings or fighting after games and play down the danger that more than a handful of hooligans will travel in June.

They estimate the hardcore of Polish hooligans at around 3000 -- as many as five times the number with stadium bans but well below the number of English fans banned from travelling under UK anti-hooligan laws.

"We've seen this whole circus before," says national force spokesman Krzysztof Hajdas. "These kind of elements like to talk up the chances of something happening, and the media like it too. Does the trouble then materialise? Generally not."

Polish and German border guards have been training together for searches of busloads of fans and they are also preparing for an influx of supporters travelling from Ukraine or basing themselves in Poland to save money on living costs.

Ukrainian, Czech and Serbian fans have little record of violence and the chief other worry from the region is the estimated 20,000 Croatian fans who are expected to travel to Berlin to watch their opening game against Brazil on June 13.

Croatian soccer association HNS was fined during World Cup qualifying after crowd trouble during an away match at Malta, where Croats ripped out seats and clashed with home fans and police.

In another away game, in Budapest, two different groups of Croat fans clashed among themselves.

"We are preparing first and foremost for checks of coaches carrying the biggest and most aggressive groups," said Polish border guard spokesman Jacek Ogrodowicz. "We are working closely with German authorities and we believe we are well-prepared."

FIRST TIME FANS

The sad thing about the hooligan debate is that it has overshadowed what for ordinary Poles, Czechs and Croatians is a rare chance to attend a World Cup, empowered by rising wages and the proximity of this year's tournament.

Maciej Szubertowski was 13 when he watched Poland win third place in 1974 at the last finals in Germany on grainy communist-era television, and he's dreamt of actually being there ever since.

"There were dozens of my friends in the draw, but only me and my father-in-law got tickets," says Maciek, now 45 and the jovial owner of a successful catering firm that is typical of the small businesses driving Poland's booming economy.

"For us both it's a dream come true."

Poland's football authorities distributed around 30,000 tickets in a draw carried out in March, but travel agencies say thousands more may travel in June.

"I'm going for the last group game and I'm just hoping we're playing for more than pride," says Maciek.

"It's a lot of money to pay for a friendly. Who knows, if we go through, maybe we'll stay for longer."

Additional reporting by Zoran Milosavljevic in Belgrade, Ron Popeski in Kiev and Zagreb newsroom.

General Discussion / Disclaimer - The Warrior Nation DID NOT Cancell All Inclusive

« on: May 12, 2006, 09:30:49 AM »

Please read my release ..

http://www.socawarriorssc.com/swonline/smf/index.php?topic=14978.0

Football / Disclaimer - The Warrior Nation Did NOT Cancell All Inclusive.

« on: May 12, 2006, 09:03:07 AM »

To All,

New Era Incorporated purchased a block of tickets from the Warrior Nation on the 5th May 2006. Their intention was to have an All inclusive section which was to be a part of the Warrior Nation Zone.

On the Game day, many of the plans that New Era supposedly made with the TTFF fell through, thus forcing the cancellation of their all inclusive section. They then issued a radio release which gave the public the impression that The Warrior Nation cancelled the all inclusive section.

The Warrior Nation is categorically denying these claims. New Era Inc is solely responsible for the cancellation of the all inclusive. By issuing such a statement on the radio, they are in fact giving the public a very false impression that The Warrior Nation was solely responsible for everything dealing with their planned all inclusive and this is simply not the truth.

The Warrior Nation remains committed to serving our members to as high a standard as possible and look forward to your continued support.

Gilbert O'Connor Jr
Regional Head - TT

www.thewarriornation.com

www.socawarriors.net

Football / TROTTERS LIME TONIGHT 7:30 tonight - ROLL CALL - URGENT

« on: May 06, 2006, 09:01:55 AM »

ROLL CALL PEOPLE.. LET ME KNOW WHO THERE..

This needs some above average atttention from you guys.!

Football / SHOW DOWN.. COWEN MEETS TRINIINFINITE

« on: May 04, 2006, 06:18:18 PM »

DETAILS LATER..

General Discussion / Biggest National Flag

« on: May 04, 2006, 04:27:16 PM »

Which Association has the Biggest National Flag in T&T and what size ?

Football / ROGER BOYNES - On TV 6

« on: May 02, 2006, 05:02:45 AM »

Truetrini, where yuh ..

Mr Boynes was on TV 6 Morning Edition.

Let me try my best to re-iterate what he said in short .

1. TTFF submitted in writing to the Sports ministry that the prices for the T&T vs Peru game wuold have been 200
covered ,100 uncovered.

2. Mr Boynes Submitted this to cabinet , and cabinet Funded the game based on this price structure.

3. TTFF went ahead and charged 500 / 300.

4. Jack gave some reasoning some time ago to the tune that TTFF lost money in the Iceland game so they had to
recover cost.

5. Mr Boynes re-iterates is dis-satisfaction with the price, and indicated based on the new pice structure that they
should have a surplus of 4 - 5 mil..

6. That surplus should be used towards the development of T&T Football.

7. Mr Boynes stayed clear of speculating what TTFF's reasoning was for the price hike..

I left the television set Crossed and angry .. I miserable.

General Discussion / PRESIDENCY ELECTIONS - Wise for Germany Comittee

« on: April 28, 2006, 02:16:59 PM »

Who should be the president of the mentioned committe. Election Speeches will be posted here.!

Football / The Warrior Nation - Our Purpose, Our Mission, Our Goals

« on: April 28, 2006, 01:38:42 PM »

The Warrior Nation is an organization that was spawned out of this forum , sw.net, created for REAL supporter by REAL supporters. Our mandate is clear, our purpose is clear, our goals are clear, our vision and future is clear..

SEE MORE HERE

We sought to make it easier for ALL our members to gain access to ALL games whether it be in T&T or abroad. The members of the board have been working night and day to ensure that ALL our interests are being served. We have toiled and will continue to toil to serve everyone involved.

It is disheartening to see that the same organization and system that was establish for, and by us all, is being undermined.

We have worked hard, many long nights to secure an allocation of tickets For us all. Our members need not go through the hassle of texting for tickets. The Nation Provided for everyone. Now some members of the nation are undermining the hard work that was put in by opting NOT to take advantage of the service created for them. A service that is very convenient, a service that is incorruptible, a service for REAL supporters, by REAL supporters.

All eyes are on us. Foreign Press, Local Media, TTFF, T&T. As such, we must have a unified front in our support. The Warrior Nation does not belong to One set of people it belongs to us ALL. We derive the benefits, We should take advantage of the benefits. We are a family and should act as such.

BLOOD , SWEAT and FETE is our motto, and this should be done in love and unity. At the end of the day we all want to achieve the same thing.

oconnorg
Regional Head - T&T
The Warrior Nation

www.thewarriornation.com
www.socawarriors.net

Football / REGISTER for the Warrior Nation Fun Day #2

« on: April 27, 2006, 09:49:57 PM »

Hi Guys,

The Local Organizing Comittee for the Warrior Nation is pleased to announce the 2nd Warrior Nation Family and Fun Day At the St James Secondary Grounds.

Clean Up you tugs, Bring your Drinks , Come and have fun.

Damage - $40.00 Time - 12 noon - Till

In Attendance will be The Clubs Esteemed President - Nigel "Tallman Myers. We also hope to to have Sw.net founder Flex Mohammed in attendance.

Come out and see these urban ledgends in the flesh as we have good "ole" Warrior Nation Fun.

PLEASE contact the Local Organizing Committe and let us know of your attendance

Members:- - oconnorg, Andre Samuel, Girl Warrior, kandi_tt, Cowen

Please fill out the the registration form.

Gilbert "oconnorg" O'Connor Jr
Regional Head - T&T
The Warrior Nation

www.thewarriornation.com
www.socawarriors.net

p.s. WALK WITH ONE WHITE JUZZY AND ONE RED JUZZY... BIG MAG, WALK WITH YUH WHISTLE AND RED AND YELLOW CYARDS AS USUAL.