Birchall: Fans gave us that boost.
By: Cherisse Moe (Guardian).
From the minute English-based Chris Birchall came onto the pitch to line up for the Soca Warriors against the United States on Wednesday at Hasely Crawford Stadium, it was clear the midfielder meant business. But it was the overwhelming support by T&T fans, which he says gave him the boost to really give the Americans a run for their money.
“Our ‘Soca Warrior’ fans gave us the support we needed. They pressured the opposition and really gave us that boost. I know USA was resting some of their key players, but they still came out and played competitive. Every time we have a near capacity crowd, we have always done well,” he said, in an interview with G-Sport, just hours before boarding a plane back to England.
The Coventry City midfielder said the team was always confident it could pull off a win against the USA.
“I’m feeling really good. We were always confident that we could beat the USA team. It’s one thing to think it, but it’s another thing to actually win,” he said.
“We knew this was our big chance to win against the USA and we finally did it.”
Birchall was also high praise of his fellow Soca Warriors, whom he said, “really came good.”
“We stood our ground. We didn’t get nervous. We really pressured the USA team and we are all happy with the performance.”
Birchall assured that a determined T&T is what the Cubans will face on November 19, when the two countries battle in the final encounter at the same venue.
While he shied away from predicting the outcome of the game, he said he remained optimistic the ‘Soca Warriors’ would emerge victorious.
Birchall said when he arrived in England he might be “switching things” up a bit.
“I am going back to England with my club, but I may be switching clubs again. I know I’m not in the coach’s plans right now, so I might be switching it up to keep up my fitness level up.”
Birchall was unofficially given the “Man of the Match” title by spectators and officials for his workhorse display against the Americans.
TTFF Special Adviser Jack Warner, while crediting the entire team for its efforts, declared the English-born player as his “Man of the Match” both for the 0-0 draw in Guatemala and victory at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
“I think it was a massive result for us really. We played with a lot of fight in us and a lot of pride too because we knew this was a game that we had to win. I personally feel delighted at the moment to be back in the team and be able to make the kind of contribution that I did both in Guatemala and here against the Americans,” Birchall said.
“For me it was a great pleasure to see the reaction of the fans and the way they were enjoying the win. It showed that the team is getting back the kind of support that we had in the last campaign and it’s definitely going to spur us on for the other matches. It looks as though we should be into the next round so hopefully the team can continue to make good progress and make the fans happy.
“I’m heading back to England but obviously it’s been hard for me to get into the Coventry first team. I’m the last player there who is supposed to go on loan and I think I should be heading out to another club very soon which is going to hopefully allow me to get back into first team football which will only be good for me.
I’ve felt very good fitness wise in the last couple games for Trinidad (and Tobago) and a lot of it has been because of the extra hours that I’ve put in. I hope to keep that up as we look ahead to the next phase of the qualifiers,” said.