2006 FIFA WORLD CUP
Underdogs shine on the World's stage
BY LINDA ROBERTSON
lrobertson@MiamiHerald.com
FEVER PITCH: Fans of Trinidad and Tobago are excited about a first World Cup appearance. The Soca Warriors play England on June 15.
On the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, the sense of euphoria created by the soccer team's unlikely and suspenseful qualification for the World Cup never quite faded. Now it is building again, as the debut of the smallest country ever to play on sports' biggest stage is 12 days away.
The Soca Warriors are the main topic of conversation among Trinidad and Tobago's 1.3 million people. Even at this weekend's huge cricket test against India, national hero Brian Lara talked about the soccer team's chances to make a splash. Pubs are decorated in red. Memorabilia is sold out. The musical groups, singers and steel drum bands selected Thursday by the government to travel to Germany are practicing for performances meant to sweep fans along to the Trinidadian beat.
''At the moment, the whole country is like an expectant father hoping to bring into the world the ideal offspring,'' said Louis Lee Sing, who runs the two main radio stations in Port of Spain. ``Win or lose, we're going to leave a lot of our affection, warmth and rhythm over there. Germany will never be the same.''
The Soca Warriors could very well captivate World Cup followers the same way Cameroon's Indomitable Lions did in 1990 and South Korea's Red Devils did in 2002. Every four years, an unexpected team creates magical goals out of long odds and rises to the role of beloved underdog.
If Trinidad fails to win a game in Group B, then perhaps the Sparrow Hawks of Togo will get a few favorable bounces and escape from Group G. It's not likely. Togo is the lowest-ranked and second-poorest country in the World Cup with a per-capita gross domestic product of $1,600, and the German coach hired last week barely knows his players' names. Togo has been given a 750-1 chance of winning the June 9-July 9 tournament, in which traditional powers Brazil, Argentina, Italy and the Netherlands are the favorites.
Then there's Australia. Football could one day overtake Aussie Rules football as the country's most popular sport. The Socceroos are coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who just happened to lead the inexhaustible South Koreans on their run to the semifinals four years ago.
''It would be lovely to see one of the giant-killers advance,'' said Tommy Smyth, an Irishman and ESPN commentator. ``The pressure of the event weighs on the favored teams, and they often play poorly, while the newcomers have light feet and absolutely nothing to lose.''
Upsets are part of the spell of the World Cup. In 1950, a squad of amateurs from the United States turned a header from Haitian-born dish-washer Joe Gaetjens into a 1-0 victory against England in the David vs. Goliath classic. In the final that year, little Uruguay shocked Brazil inside Rio de Janiero's throbbing Maracana Stadium.
Who can forget 38-year-old Roger Milla dancing with the flapping corner flag and leading Cameroon to wins over Argentina, Romania and Colombia in 1990 before losing to England in the quarterfinals? In 1994, Hristo Stoichkov led Bulgaria -- 0-16 in previous World Cups -- to the semifinals. In 2002, not only did South Korea earn the best finish by an Asian team, but the U.S. beat Portugal and Mexico before falling to Germany on a controversial goal, and Senegal beat defending champion France and advanced to the quarterfinals in its first World Cup.
''Every weekend all over the world, smaller, so-called weaker teams beat stronger teams,'' Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker told The Associated Press. ``If Northern Ireland beat England, why can't Trinidad? We have the right to the same ambition on the field as any other team.''
Trinidad, home of calypso, soca, the steel drum, roti and author V.S. Naipul, was the last team to qualify for this World Cup. On Nov. 16, the Soca Warriors defeated Bahrain 1-0 in a playoff in Bahrain, which set off the kind of street party usually seen at Carnival time.
LONG TIME COMING
It has taken Trinidad 11 tries since 1966 to make its first World Cup. Russell Latapy, 37, came out of retirement. Dwight Yorke, 34, came over from his club in Australia. Striker Stern John scored 12 goals in qualifying matches. Christopher Birchall, an Englishman whose mother was born in Port of Spain, became the first white starter on the team in 20 years.
''All the Caribbean islands are supporting us,'' said Harvey Borras, Trinidad's consul in Miami. ``I'm hoping people worldwide will get to know more about our country.''
At Joy's Roti Shop in Lauderhill, the talk is about who is going to Germany. Cheryl Ramlogan is one of the lucky ones. She and her husband hope to get tickets to Trinidad's June 15 game against England in Nuremberg.
''It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see history,'' she said.
Sing, the radio station owner, is going with his daughter, Ayn Lee Sing, a University of Miami librarian.
Four of the five African teams -- Togo, Angola, Ghana and Ivory Coast -- also qualified for the first time. On paper, Ivory Coast is second only to Tunisia as the strongest team from the continent, but the Elephants were drawn into the Group of Death with Argentina, the Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro.
Didier Drogba, the player of the year in France in 2004 and a sensational striker for Chelsea, could lead his team to a strong run. He is playing with passion; he has said he wants the team to act as a unifying force for his troubled country, where ethnic fighting has divided the population and destroyed the economy.
''Watch out for Drogba,'' Smyth said. ``He can lead a team; he can create.''
Angola would love to do to Portugal what Senegal did to France in 2002 -- defeat its colonizer. Angola's first appearance in the tournament is seen as a step forward for an impoverished country that endured 27 years of civil war after gaining its independence in 1975.
The roster includes many players who play professionally in Portugal -- as well as these memorable names: Ze Kalanga, Lebo Lebo, Love and Jamba. The star for the Black Antelopes is Pedro Mantorras, who plays for Benfica.
Ghana, which will play the United States on June 22, has a strong soccer tradition, having won four African Nations Cups and two Under-17 world titles, but it took 44 years for the Black Stars to qualify for the World Cup. Chelsea's Michael Essien commanded a $40 million transfer fee, making him the highest-paid African player in the world.
Togo is the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, at No. 56. The Falcons' key player is Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays for Arsenal. He scored 11 goals in 12 qualifiers, the most of any player in Africa. Togo gained independence from France in 1960 and will play Les Bleus on June 23 in Cologne.
TOUGHER FOR UNDERDOG
Aside from South Korea, the Cup's underdogs have done most of their barking in the early rounds. None has ever posed a serious threat for the Jules Rimet trophy. The predictable powers -- Brazil, Germany, Italy, Argentina, England, France and the Netherlands -- have dominated the championship game since 1966.
The game has become more global, gaining a foothold in Africa, Asia and the United States, and there is less hidden talent. Promising players swiftly are identified and signed by the European leagues.
National team coaches have long global résumés.
''I think it's getting tougher for the underdog because they are losing that element of surprise and unfamiliarity,'' Smyth said. ``Opponents are better prepared and not taking them for granted.''
Still, soccer is an unpredictable game, and the World Cup has an unforgiving format.
''One surprising goal can make all the difference, as we know,'' Trinidad's Sing said. ``Anything can happen in soccer. That's why we're so optimistic.''
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Dis is also in today's National Post in Canada on S7 for the SW in Canada...
