Intercontinental WCQ Playoff: Trinidad and Tobago-Bahrain
11/11/2005 6:29:00 PM
In the lead up to this weekend’s playoffs, Uruguay and Australia have stolen the show with their bickering over kickoff times and flight fiascos. The other Intercontinental playoff between Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain has been seemingly lost in the shuffle, but this tie is no less intriguing with a first ever World Cup finals appearance at stake for the winners.
BACKGROUND
And though this match-up won’t conjure up the controversy of Uruguay-Australia, there have been some interesting reports/accusations in the last week that have given an edge to this series. For starters T&T ex-captain David Nakhid was accused of leaking footage of the Caribbean side to Bahrain. All this amidst the backdrop of Bahrain even being in this playoff after controversially squeaking by Uzbekistan, bringing many to the conclusion that Bahrain are not here on merit, but due to other reasons.
Whether the conspiracy theories have any truth to them or are completely outlandish, Saturday’s first leg promises to be a dramatic affair, a match that is crucial for both sides.
T&T boss Leo Beenhakker has been at the forefront of a improving side over the last six months which has seen the Soca Warriors rise from the bottom of the CONCACAF Final Round standings to claim a fourth-placed slot and thereby a spot in the playoffs. Beenhakker is not ringing in the changes, the Dutch coach is pleased with he has seen of his team recently, “Why should I change anything? We saw what we did from the beginning of May to the last match against Mexico. Little by little the team has been growing and playing better and better and as a result a great game versus Mexico.” Surely the 2-1 win over Mexico that earned T&T qualification has become the new driving force for this team, a victory that was important not only for the result but the confidence that came with it.
The Bahrain government has promised the national team the biggest ever prizes for sportsmen in the country’s history should a World Cup berth be achieved. For Luka Peruzovic’s side though, the financial incentives may only add to the pressure. After impressing in the Asian Cup in China last year, Bahrain have proven their worth in continental play, but like T&T, the Bahrainis are untested in these sort of circumstances and it remains to be seen what effect playing away from home will have on the Asian side.
But perhaps the inexperience of both sides will not matter come Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. With neither side more than a novice in this situation, it may all come down to which team wants it more and simply who is better on the day. It’s not Uruguay-Australia, but this match-up is loaded with excitement as the prize of a World Cup berth hangs in the balance.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Trinidad and Tobago
Beenhakker will not change much with his team and one can expect that the Soca Warriors will be fielding the same side as in the victory over Mexico a month ago. The entire country has been gripped in World Cup fever in the lead-up to Saturday’s match as T&T vie to become only the fourth ever Caribbean nation to qualify for the World Cup finals.
Beenhakker has virtually no injury concerns and can select from a full squad.
Bahrain
Peruzovic will welcome back leading striker Alaa Hubail after missing the last six matches through injury. There are other injury concerns however as Mohammed Husain is out after picking up a muscle strain and Naser Duaij has been left out for being overweight.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trinidad and Tobago
Stern John: The on-loan Derby striker is the man perhaps most responsible for T&T’s playoff berth. Two terrific goals against Mexico clinched the playoff spot for his team and John will certainly be the biggest threat to Bahrain’s backline. In a side that includes Dwight Yorke, Russell Latapy and other individual talent, it’s John who is perhaps the star of the show with his speed and quality finishing.
Bahrain
Alaa Hubail: Bahraini fans will be grateful for the return of Hubail, the joint leading scorer of the 2004 Asian Cup. Out for the last six matches due to an injury, Hubail will be raring to go and will receive his chance on Saturday to test the T&T rearguard. A very quick player and clinical finisher, Hubail has been tipped to be the first Bahraini to make an impact in Europe. A couple of good performances against T&T and Hubail may arouse the interest of some of the better European sides.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
To be confirmed
PREDICTION
A highly difficult match to call as the evidence points to this being a close series over the two matches. T&T must begin as favourites at home and though both teams are relatively inexperienced, more of T&T’s players have been involved in higher pressure matches which suggests that Beenhakker’s side will be the readier of the two come Saturday. Still that is speculation and Bahrain have proved they can score on the road. In a close affair, T&T should shade it thanks to their crop of experienced stars such as Stern John and Dwight Yorke.
Trinidad and Tobago 2 Bahrain 0
George Tsitsonis
Poll results
http://www.goal.com/poll.aspx?idPoll=117&show=resultsFan vs Fan
http://www.goal.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=100311&progr=9