Collin Samuel: Wife wants me to dump the English
By Euan McArthur (Daily Record)
COLLIN SAMUEL last night revealed he has been ordered to dump England in the World Cup - by his missus.
Wife Lyndsey made the demand after last week's draw landed Trinidad and Tobago with an opening match against Sven Goran Eriksson's side.
The Dundee United striker will have the backing of every Scot when his country go into action in Germany next summer.
And Samuel, who gained UK citizenship when he married Lyndsey earlier this year, has been left in no doubt about the importance of putting oneover the English He said: "Lyndsey is very happy we're playing against England.
"She has told me about how the Scottish and English people have some sort of rivalry so hopefully we can get a result that would please her.
"It's really great for my country that we've been drawn in the same group as England and we want to make the most of it."
Samuel, who was on standby for the play-off triumph over Bahrain which sealed qualification, is itching to ensure he is one of the chosen few when coach Leo Beenhakker announces his final squad. He said: "It would be an honour to play against them and the highest point of my career so far.
"When I was growing up in Trinidad the teams everyone knew about were Italy, Brazil and Germany.
"But moving here you get to know a lot more about England and you see them often of television."
Samuel was a wide-eyed teenager when his country just missed out on qualifying for Italia 90. The memory of that failure is all the incentive he needs to spur him on this time.
He said: "It's everybody's dream to play in a World Cup, especially as it's the first time we've qualified.
"It was so disappointing in 1989. We needed only a point against the USA in a play-off but lost 1-0 at home.
"It's like a carnival in Trinidad just now and everyone can't wait for next summer."
Samuel is aware that maintaining his form for United will be the key to him making it on to world football's biggest stage.
And under-pressure boss Gordon Chisholm will he hoping Samuel does just that for the visit of Dunfermline on Saturday where nothing other than victory will satisfy chairman Eddie Thompson.
