England vs Trinidad and Tobago today, June 15th in Nuremburg at 6:00 PM German time (12 Noon EST)
This match has reached the stratosphere in its build up. Leo Beenhakker and Stern John have been chipping away at the mythical qualities of the English soccer players. Today Beenhakker referenced England’s 0-1 loss to Northern Ireland in their World Cup qualifiers.
“Their fans had a very dark and black day against Northern Ireland in their recent history. The fans didn’t expect that. They think their team are the best but they have to show it. Let them dream. I haven’t mentioned Northern Ireland to my team, but I have told them we see big teams struggling like France against Switzerland.”
Stern John “The way they played in the opening game, we definitely fancy our chances,” John said. “They didn’t play their best but, saying that, they can probably turn on the heat against us.”
In fact, Beenhakker and the Soca Warriors have been pleading with Sven to bring on Rooney. Will they regret their words?
Shaka Hislop, T&T’s hero against Sweden will start in goal after a niggling injury out some doubts as to his fitness. The Soca Warriors will push up front with Dwight Yorke and maximize on Stern John and Cornell Glen’s speed to spilt the English defence and get some good crosses into the big men Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke. The English will have to isolate Yorke back into his own half and essentially turn this game into a one half game.
England’s chances ride on their midfield clicking through the give and go, 1-2 touch that they play in the EPL. Especially the left flank through Joe Cole, a compact and speedy player, and the busiest Englishman in the squad. Gerrard and Lampard will have to combine better. Gerrard was reduced to a Van Damme figurehead in the Paraguay match. Lampard decided to take the afternoon off. Becks will provide the set pieces but don’t expect him to get a full steam of speed through the right, that will have to come through Ashley Cole.
Up front England have to solve the Peter Crouch- Michael Owen tangle. Crouch cannot create his own chances and has to rely on accurate passes to his noggin and to his feet. Owen can create but he will have the Soca Warriors collapse around him and take him off his speed and dribble.
Sven Goran is coming under tremendous pressure. He has had to fend off rumors that he and Owen are not seeing eye to eye. He has been questioned by Gary Lineker on the amount of time given off to his players. And then there is the Alex Feguson-Wayne Rooney saga that has consumed the media.
The X factor: Can the Soca Warriors summon the courage and heart into this match displayed against Sweden? They have created one of the biggest buzzes in this World Cup.
All I can say is look out for a tense and exhilarating match with the noise level shattering a few eardrums as the Three Lions and the Soca Warriors clash today. This is one of the matches where the colonizer meets the colonized and the atmosphere will be electric.