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Should Trinidad and Tobago fail to beat Guatemala in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier on Saturday, and then also lose to Costa Rica in the mid-week qualifier in San Jose, then the campaign to get to the 2006 World Cup Finals is over. It's as simple as that.


But Trinidad and Tobago can beat Guatemala.

At this point, the battle to get to the World Cup Finals involves Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Panama. Forget the United States and Mexico, we were never really expected to beat them, although Trinidad and Tobago's Warriors may ver1y well need at least a point against the Mexicans in their final qualifying game on November 12 in Port of Spain.

However, if Trinidad and Tobago is to get to the World Cup Finals, we must start off by beating a Guatemalan team who we have traditional done well against. The teams last met on March 9, when Guatemala made full use of home turf to come away 5-1 winners. T&T had as many chances to score as their opponents that day and since then, T&T defence had not been as leaky. Since meeting Guatemala, T&T have drawn 0-0 with Costa Rica, beaten Panama 2-0, lost 2-0 to Mexico and also went under 1-0 to the Americans. Just three goals have been conceded in four matches, an excellent tally, but only a few have been scored.

Anyone believing that Guatemala are going to lie down and play dead simply because they are playing away, and now that Russell Latapy has returned, are joking. Guatemala have an excellent chance of qualifying for the World Cup Finals and they are going to fight tooth and nail for a victory at Hasely Crawford Stadium. Should T&T beat them, we too have an excellent chance, and will have to go to Costa Rica next Wednesday and fight tooth an nail as well.

Trinidad and Tobago's Warriors showed some fight to come out of a bad situation against the United States with just a 1-0 loss. They must show even more fight against Guatemala. Since giving a credible performance in losing 2-0 to Mexico, the Warriors have played as if asleep at the Gold Cup in the US, and against the Americans. The sleeping Warriors must wake up now. It's a case of do or die.

National coach Dutchman Leo Beenhakker has brought some organisation to the team, but what the Warriors need now is a second gear. They need to be able to change pace and pile on the pressure on their opponents, either to pull a goal back, or to press home the advantage when ahead. This team does not do that.

Guatemala have to be under pressure and backed into their penalty area from the start. The T&T crowd must be chanting and vocal from the start...drums have to be beating from the start.

Guatemala, must feel they are in hell, because believe me, the Warriors know for sure they will be when they face Costa Rica next Wednesday in San Jose.

T&T'S 22-MAN SQUAD:

Stern John (Coventry), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham United). Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Russell Latapy (Falkirk), Silvio Spann (Yokohama FC ), Dwight Yorke (Sidney F.C.), Scott Sealy (Kansas City), Avery John (New England Revolution) , Glenton Wolfe ( North East Stars) Atiba Charles (W. Connection), Densill Theobald (Caledonia AIA/Fire), Cyd Gray (Jabloteh), Aurtis Whitley (Jabloteh) and Anton Pierre (Defence Force)