Trinidad and Tobago national football team

Trinidad and Tobago
Nickname(s) The Soca Warriors
Association Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean)
Confederation CONCACAF
Head coach Otto Pfister[1]
Asst coach Anton Corneal
Hutson Charles
Captain Kenwyne Jones
Most caps Angus Eve (117)
Top scorer Stern John (70)
Home stadium Hasely Crawford Stadium
FIFA code TRI
FIFA ranking 76
Highest FIFA ranking 25 (June 2001)
Lowest FIFA ranking 106 (October 2010)
Elo ranking 91
Highest Elo ranking 35 (January 1929)
Lowest Elo ranking 116 (September 1987)
Home colours
Away colours
First international
Dutch Guiana 3–3 Trinidad & Tobago
(Suriname; August 6, 1934)[1]
Biggest win
Trinidad & Tobago 11–0 Aruba 
(Grenada; June 4, 1989)
Biggest defeat
 Mexico 7–0 Trinidad and Tobago
(Mexico City, Mexico; October 8, 2000)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 2006)
Best result Round 1, 2006
CONCACAF Championship
& Gold Cup
Appearances 13 (First in 1967)
Best result Runners-up; 1973

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals. The country currently holds the record of being the smallest nation (both in size and population) to ever qualify for a World Cup Finals.

The separate Trinidad and Tobago national football teams are not related to the national team and are not directly affiliated with the game's governing bodies of FIFA or CONCACAF but are affiliated with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.

Contents

History

1974 World Cup qualification: Controversy

At the 1973 CONCACAF Championship, Trinidad and Tobago fell two points short of qualifying for the 1974 World Cup Finals in controversial fashion. Trinidad and Tobago lost a crucial game on December 4, 1973 against hosts Haiti 2–1 after being denied five goals. The referee, José Roberto Henríquez of El Salvador and a Canadian linesman James Higuet were subsequently banned for life by FIFA for the dubious events of the match.[2][3][4]

1990 World Cup qualification: Within grasp

Trinidad and Tobago came within one game of qualifying for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Dubbed the Strike Squad during the qualifying campaign, Trinidad and Tobago needed only a draw to qualify in their final game played at home against the United States on November 19, 1989. In front of an over-capacity crowd of more than 30,000 at the National Stadium on Red Day,[5] Paul Caligiuri of the United States scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute dashing Trinidad and Tobago's qualification hopes.[6] For the good behaviour of the crowd at the stadium, despite the devastating loss and overcrowded stands, the spectators of Trinidad and Tobago were awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1989.[7]

2006 World Cup: Country's first World Cup

Main article: Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Main article: Trinidad and Tobago at the FIFA World Cup

Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany, its first-ever qualification for the tournament. During their qualifying campaign, they sat at the bottom of the table in the final round of qualifying with one point from three . However, after the arrival of Leo Beenhakker as team coach and the recalling of veteran players Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy, Trinidad and Tobago reversed its fortunes and placed fourth in the group. They qualified via a playoff against Bahrain, recovering from a 1–1 draw at home to win 1–0 in Manama, Bahrain to book a place in the finals. As a result, Trinidad and Tobago became the smallest country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

In Germany, Trinidad and Tobago were grouped with England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B. They drew their first game 0–0 against Sweden despite going down to ten men early in the second half. They lost both their remaining against England and Paraguay by a 2–0 margin.

2010 World Cup qualification

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)

Trinidad and Tobago began their campaign in the Second Round with a home and away series against Bermuda. Trinidad and Tobago lost the first match at home 1–2, but bounced back to win the away leg in Bermuda 2–0 to progress to the third round 3–2 on aggregate.

The Soca Warriors advanced to Group 1 of the Third Round alongside the United States, Guatemala, and Cuba. Trinidad and Tobago progressed to the Fourth Round by placing second in the group with eleven points from six games. This qualified Trinidad and Tobago for the Fourth Round, or Hexagonal, against Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States.

The Fourth Round was also played in a home and away format among the six teams involved. Qualification quickly turned disastrous for Trinidad and Tobago as they tied 2–2 with El Salvador after leading 2–0. They would then tie 1–1 with Honduras following a late-strike. However, three consecutive losses to the United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico found the Soca Warriors bottom of the Hexagonal with two points from their first five matches. In their sixth match, they recorded their first win of the round by defeating El Salvador 1–0. However, the victory was short lived as they suffered losses to Honduras and the United States the following month; ending their hopes to qualify for the World Cup. In their final two matches, Trinidad and Tobago lost 4-0 to Costa Rica and drew 2-2 with Mexico. Trinidad and Tobago finished last in the Hexagonal with just six points from ten matches.

Qualification

Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Guyana 6 4 1 1 9 5 +4 13
 Trinidad and Tobago 6 4 0 2 11 4 +7 12
 Bermuda 6 3 1 2 8 7 +1 10
 Barbados 6 0 0 6 2 14 −12 0
 
Barbados  – 1–2 0–2 0–2
Bermuda  2–1 – 1–1 2–1
Guyana  2–0 2–1 – 2–1
Trinidad and Tobago  4–0 1–0 2–0 –

Competitive record

Further information: Trinidad and Tobago national football team cup results

Trinidad and Tobago have competed the FIFA World Cup, as well as CFU and CONCACAF regional tournaments.

The team qualified for its first World Cup in 2006, with the team finishing 0–1–2 in its three First Round matches. Even though the team did not advance further in the competition, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its first point from the World Cup in its first appearance.

In regional competitions, Trinidad and Tobago best finish in the CONCACAF Championship and later the Gold Cup came in 1973 when the team came in 2nd. Since then they have only advanced beyond the First Round once, which came in 2000 where the Soca Warriors lost to the eventual winners Canada in the Semifinals.

All CFU members have competed in the Caribbean Cup as a qualification tournament for the Gold Cup since 1989. Trinidad and Tobago has won eight out of thirteen Caribbean Cups since its inception.

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Did Not Enter
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966 Did Not Qualify
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006 Group Stage (Group B) 4th 3 0 1 2 0 4
2010 Did Not Qualify
2014
2018 To Be Determined
2022
Total Group Stage 1/19 3 0 1 2 0 4

Schedule and recent results

Matches from the past six months, as well as any future scheduled matches.

Date Venue Opponent Competition Result T&T Scorers
August 21, 2011 Hasely Crawford Stadium  India
IF
3–0 W
 John  18' (pen.)
Roberts  46', 84'
September 2, 2011 Hasely Crawford Stadium  Bermuda
WCQ
1–0 W
 Jones  45'
September 6, 2011 Waterford National Stadium  Barbados
WCQ
2–0 W
 Daniel  20'
Roberts  69'
October 7, 2011 Bermuda National Stadium  Bermuda
WCQ
2-1 L
 Molino  82'
October 11, 2011 Hasely Crawford Stadium  Barbados
WCQ
4-0 W
 Peltier  7', 54', 62'
Hector  90'
November 11, 2011 Providence Stadium  Guyana
WCQ
1-2 L
 Jones  90+'
November 15, 2011 Hasely Crawford Stadium  Guyana
WCQ
2-0 W
 Jones  58'
Peltier  64'
January 22, 2012 Hasely Crawford Stadium  Finland
IF
[2][3]

Current squad

The following players is the squad named for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Guyana on November 11 & 15, 2011.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK Marvin Phillip August 1, 1984 (1984-08-01) (age 27) 32 0 T&TEC
21 GK Jan Michael Williams October 26, 1984 (1984-10-26) (age 27) 36 0 W Connection
3 DF Carlyle Mitchell August 8, 1987 (1987-08-08) (age 24) 3 0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
4 DF Akeem Adams April 13, 1991 (1991-04-13) (age 20) 5 0 T&TEC
5 DF Julius James July 9, 1984 (1984-07-09) (age 27) 14 0 Columbus Crew
6 DF Osei Telesford February 12, 1987 (1987-02-12) (age 25) 19 1 Puerto Rico Islanders
17 DF Anthony Wolfe December 23, 1983 (1983-12-23) (age 28) 34 3 North East Stars
20 DF Seon Power February 2, 1984 (1984-02-02) (age 28) 21 1 North East Stars
7 MF Chris Birchall May 5, 1984 (1984-05-05) (age 27) 38 4 Los Angeles Galaxy
8 MF Khaleem Hyland June 5, 1989 (1989-06-05) (age 22) 29 3 Racing Genk
10 MF Hayden Tinto August 31, 1985 (1985-08-31) (age 26) 20 2 Joe Public
11 MF Carlos Edwards October 24, 1978 (1978-10-24) (age 33) 80 4 Ipswich Town
13 MF Lester Peltier September 13, 1988 (1988-09-13) (age 23) 14 4 Trenčín
15 MF Hughton Hector October 16, 1984 (1984-10-16) (age 27) 17 5 W Connection
16 MF Kevin Molino June 17, 1990 (1990-06-17) (age 21) 5 1 Orlando City
18 MF Andrei Pacheco September 20, 1984 (1984-09-20) (age 27) 9 0 T&TEC
19 MF Keon Daniel January 16, 1987 (1987-01-16) (age 25) 49 8 Philadelphia Union
9 FW Kenwyne Jones October 5, 1984 (1984-10-05) (age 27) 49 7 Stoke City
12 FW Kendall Jagdeosingh May 30, 1986 (1986-05-30) (age 25) 7 0 Rochester Rhinos
14 FW Stern John October 30, 1976 (1976-10-30) (age 35) 112 70 Free Agent

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to the 20-man squad for the friendly against India at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on August 21, 2011.[8]

Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club Latest Call-up
GK Tony Warner May 11, 1974 (1974-05-11) (age 37) 2 0 Wellington Phoenix v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
DF Radanfah Abu Bakr April 11, 1984 (1984-04-11) (age 27) 8 1 Olympic Charleroi v.  Bermuda; October 7, 2011
DF Mekeil Williams July 24, 1990 (1990-07-24) (age 21) 0 0 W Connection v.  Bermuda; October 7, 2011
DF Kern Cupid April 11, 1984 (1984-04-11) (age 27) 13 0 W Connection v.  India; August 21, 2011
DF Keston Williams February 27, 1981 (1981-02-27) (age 30) 11 0 Defence Force v.  India; August 21, 2011
DF Noel Williams February 2, 1984 (1984-02-02) (age 28) 21 1 Police FC v.  India; August 21, 2011
MF Clyde Leon December 8, 1983 (1983-12-08) (age 28) 40 1 Itagüí Ditaires v.  Bermuda; October 7, 2011
MF Andre Boucaud October 10, 1984 (1984-10-10) (age 27) 6 0 York City v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
MF Jake Thomson May 12, 1989 (1989-05-12) (age 22) 2 0 Kettering Town v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
MF Densill Theobald June 27, 1982 (1982-06-27) (age 29) 78 2 Dempo S.C. v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
FW Juma Clarence March 17, 1989 (1989-03-17) (age 22) 2 0 Caledonia AIA v.  India; August 21, 2011
FW Darryl Roberts September 26, 1983 (1983-09-26) (age 28) 21 6 Free Agent v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
FW Andre Toussaint August 26, 1981 (1981-08-26) (age 30) 29 6 Joe Public v.  Bermuda; September 2, 2011
FW Devorn Jorsling December 27, 1983 (1983-12-27) (age 28) 25 13 Orlando City v.  Bermuda; October 7, 2011
FW Kevaughn Connell July 23, 1983 (1983-07-23) (age 28) 6 0 North East Stars v.  Bermuda; October 7, 2011

Player records

Most capped players

The following players have received the caps in national team history:

Rank Player Caps Goals Years
1 Angus Eve 117 34 1994–2005
2 Stern John 113 70 1995–
3 Marvin Andrews 101 10 1996–2009
4 Dennis Lawrence 89 5 2000–2010
5 Carlos Edwards 80 4 1999–
6 Clayton Ince 79 0 1997–2010
7 Densill Theobald 78 2 2002–
Russell Latapy 78 29 1988–2009
9 Arnold Dwarika 73 28 1993–2009
10 Dwight Yorke 72 19 1989–2009

Top scorers

The following players are the top scorers in national team history:

Rank Player Caps Goals Years
1 Stern John 113 70 1995–
2 Angus Eve 117 34 1994–2005
3 Russell Latapy 79 29 1988–2009
4 Arnold Dwarika 73 28 1993–2005
5 Cornell Glen 59 23 2002–
6 Nigel Pierre 56 22 1999–2005
7 Leonson Lewis 32 21 1988–1996
8 Dwight Yorke 72 19 1989–2009
9 Steve David 16 16 1972–1976
10 Kerry Baptiste 50 12 2003–

Manager history

Name From To
Bertille St. Clair May 1997 February 2000
Ian Porterfield March 1, 2000 June 25, 2001
René Simões June 2001 May 2002
Hannibal Najjar October 23, 2002 April 1, 2003
Zoran Vraneš April 2, 2003 May 14, 2003
Stuart Charles Fevrier May 15, 2003 January 16, 2004
Bertille St. Clair January 16, 2004 March 31, 2005
Leo Beenhakker March 31, 2005 June 20, 2006
Wim Rijsbergen July 11, 2006 December 4, 2007
Francisco Maturana January 4, 2008 April 8, 2009
Russell Latapy April 8, 2009[9] January 31, 2011
Otto Pfister March 24, 2011[10] Present

Other former managers include the following:

Supporters' Groups

Main article: Soca Warriors Supporters Club

The major supporters' group for the Trinidad and Tobago national team is the Soca Warriors Supporters Club. Also known as The Warrior Nation, the group is a non-profit organization that formed shortly after Trinidad and Tobago secured qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

References

  1. ^ Trainer-Oldie beendet Arbeitspause: Pfister trainiert Trinidad & Tobago
  2. ^ Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors set to give them all in Germany, Guardian UK. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  3. ^ Football: Carnival time and the Trinis are up for the party, The Independent. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  4. ^ Trinidad Express - Haitian robbery: Trinidad and Tobago cheated W/Cup spot, Socawarriors.net. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  5. ^ Red-Day, Nov, 19, 1989, Youtube.com. Accessed: June 23, 2008.
  6. ^ Pulse: Thank You Trinidad and Tobago Warriors, Trinidad Guardian. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  7. ^ FIFA Fair Play Awards, FIFA.com. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  8. ^ "India to test Soca Warriors today". 2011-08-21. http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/9291-india-to-test-soca-warriors-today.html). Retrieved 2011-08-21. 
  9. ^ Latas in, Maturana out, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Accessed 2009-04-09.
  10. ^ Otto Pfister Appointed Coach Of Trinidad & Tobago at the goal.com, Accessed 2011-05-04.

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