Trinidad and Tobago national football team

Trinidad and Tobago

Nickname(s)	The Soca Warriors
Association	Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach	Russell Latapy
Asst coach	Zoran Vraneš Dwight Yorke
Captain	Dennis Lawrence
Most caps	Angus Eve (117)
Top scorer	Stern John (69)
Home stadium	Hasely Crawford Stadium
FIFA code	TRI
FIFA ranking	72
Highest FIFA ranking	25 (June 2001)
Lowest FIFA ranking	102 (July 2008)
Elo ranking	70
Highest Elo ranking	35 (January 1929)
Lowest Elo ranking	116 (September 1987)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Trinidad and Tobago 3–3 Dutch Guiana (Trinidad and Tobago; August 6, 1934)
Biggest win
Trinidad and Tobago 11–0 Aruba (Grenada; June 4, 1989)
Biggest defeat
Mexico 7–0 Trinidad and Tobago (Mexico City; October 8, 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 2006)
Best result	Round 1, 2006
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances	7 (First in 1991)
Best result	Semifinals, 2000

The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is controlled by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals.

The separate Trinidad and Tobago 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.

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 having five of their goals disallowed. The referee, Jose Enrique of El Salvador and a Canadian linesman James Higuet were subsequently banned for life by FIFA for the dubious events of the match.^[1][2][3]

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 over 30,000 at the National Stadium on Red Day,^[4] Paul Caligiuri of the United States scored the only goal of the game in the 38th minute dashing Trinidad and Tobago's qualification hopes.^[5] 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.^[6]

2006 World Cup: Country's first 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 games. 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 games against England and Paraguay by a 2–0 margin.

2010 World Cup qualification: Disappointment

Team v • d • e Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  United States 10 6 2 2 19 13 +6 20  Mexico 10 6 1 3 18 12 +6 19  Honduras 10 5 1 4 17 11 +6 16  Costa Rica 10 5 1 4 15 15 0 16  El Salvador 10 2 2 6 9 15 −6 8  Trinidad and Tobago 10 1 3 6 10 22 −12 6

Costa Rica  – 1–0 2–0 0–3 4–0 3–1 El Salvador  1–0 – 0–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 Honduras  4–0 1–0 – 3–1 4–1 2–3 Mexico  2 –0 4–1 1–0 – 2–1 2–1 Trinidad and Tobago  2–3 1–0 1–1 2–2 – 0–1 United States  2–2 2–1 2–1 2–0 3–0 –

• The United States, Mexico and Honduras have qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
• Costa Rica enter the CONMEBOL/CONCACAF play-off.
• El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago are eliminated.

Trinidad and Tobago are currently attempting to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They began their campaign in the second round with a home and away series against Bermuda. Trinidad and Tobago lost the first game at home 1–2 on June 15 but bounced back to win the away leg in Bermuda 2–0 to progress to the third round 3–2 on aggregate.

Trinidad and Tobago played in Group 1 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.

The fourth round is also played in a home and away format among the six teams involved. The other teams in the fourth round include the United States, Honduras, Mexico, Costa Rica, and El Salvador The top three teams in the fourth round will qualify for the World Cup Finals, while the fourth placed team will enter a home and away playoff against the fifth placed CONMEBOL team for a qualification spot.

Schedule and recent results

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

Date	Venue	Opponent	Competition	Result	T&T Goals (Goal #)
June 6, 2009	Dwight Yorke Stadium	Costa Rica	WC CQ R4	2–3 L	Edwards (4) Samuel (5)
June 10, 2009	Estadio Azteca	Mexico	WC CQ R4	1–2 L	Tinto (2)
July 12, 2009	Warner Park	Saint Kitts and Nevis	F	3–2 W	Abu Bakr (1) Guerra (1) Baptiste (5)
August 12, 2009	Hasely Crawford Stadium	El Salvador	WC CQ R4	1–0 W	Glen (23)
September 5, 2009	Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano	Honduras	WC CQ R4	1–4 L	Baptiste (6)
September 9, 2009	Hasely Crawford Stadium	United States	WC CQ R4	0–1 L
October 10, 2009	Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá	Costa Rica	WC CQ R4	0–4 L
October 14, 2009	Hasely Crawford Stadium	Mexico	WC CQ R4	2–2 D	Baptiste (7, 8)

Current squad

The following 18-man matchday squad was named for the 2–2 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying draw against Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 14, 2009.
Caps and goals are current as of the completion of the 2–2 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying draw against Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 14, 2009.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Marvin Phillip August 1, 1984 (1984-08-01) (age 25) 25 0 W Connection 18 GK Jan-Michael Williams October 26, 1984 (1984-10-26) (age 25) 25 0 W Connection 3 DF Keston Williams March 25, 1981 (1981-03-25) (age 28) 4 0 Defence Force 4 DF Jake Thomson December 5, 1989 (1989-12-05) (age 19) 2 0 Southampton 5 DF Robert Primus November 10, 1990 (1990-11-10) (age 18) 2 0 San Juan Jabloteh 6 DF Dennis Lawrence August 1, 1974 (1974-08-01) (age 35) 89 5 San Juan Jabloteh 16 DF Kern Cupid April 11, 1984 (1984-04-11) (age 25) 12 0 W Connection 2 MF Clyde Leon December 8, 1983 (1983-12-08) (age 25) 28 1 W Connection 7 MF Densill Theobald August 27, 1981 (1981-08-27) (age 28) 68 2 Caledonia AIA 8 MF Trent Noel January 14, 1976 (1976-01-14) (age 33) 27 0 Joe Public 9 MF Hughton Hector October 16, 1984 (1984-10-16) (age 25) 2 0 W Connection 10 MF Hayden Tinto August 31, 1984 (1984-08-31) (age 25) 13 1 Joe Public 11 MF Carlos Edwards October 24, 1978 (1978-10-24) (age 31) 78 4 Ipswich Town 12 FW Shahdon Winchester January 8, 1992 (1992-01-08) (age 17) 0 0 W Connection 13 FW Juma Clarence March 17, 1989 (1989-03-17) (age 20) 1 0 United Petrotrin 14 FW Kerry Baptiste December 1, 1981 (1981-12-01) (age 27) 43 9 Joe Public 15 FW Devon Jorsling December 27, 1983 (1983-12-27) (age 25) 10 4 Defence Force 17 FW Kenwyne Jones October 5, 1984 (1984-10-05) (age 25) 45 5 Sunderland

Recent call-ups

The following players were named to a matchday squad in the last six months, but were not named to the 18-man squad for the 2–2 2010 World Cup Qualifying Fourth Round draw against Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 14, 2009.

Caps and goals are current as of the completion of the 2–2 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying draw against Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium on October 14, 2009.

Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Most recent call-up
Goalkeepers
Clayton Ince	July 12, 1972 (1972-07-12) (age 37)	79	0	Walsall	v.  United States; September 9, 2009
Defenders
Avery John	June 18, 1975 (1975-06-18) (age 34)	70	0	D.C. United	v.  Costa Rica; June 6, 2009
Makan Hislop	March 9, 1985 (1985-03-09) (age 24)	31	0	United Petrotrin	v.  Mexico; June 10, 2009
Akeem Adams	April 13, 1991 (1991-04-13) (age 18)	3	0	Presentation College, San Fernando	v.  Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009
Keyeno Thomas	December 29, 1977 (1977-12-29) (age 31)	72	2	Joe Public	v.  Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009
Aklie Edwards	June 7, 1985 (1985-06-07) (age 24)	23	1	Defence Force	v.  El Salvador; August 12, 2009
Marvin Andrews	December 22, 1975 (1975-12-22) (age 33)	101	10	Hamilton Academical	v.  Honduras; September 5, 2009
Jlloyd Samuel	March 29, 1981 (1981-03-29) (age 28)	2	0	Bolton Wanderers	v.  United States; September 9, 2009
Radanfah Abu Bakr	February 12, 1987 (1987-02-12) (age 22)	8	1	Swansea City	v.  Costa Rica; October 10, 2009
Julius James	July 9, 1984 (1984-07-09) (age 25)	4	0	D.C. United	v.  Costa Rica; October 10, 2009
Midfielders
Khaleem Hyland	June 5, 1989 (1989-06-05) (age 20)	27	3	SV Zulte Waregem	v.  Mexico; June 10, 2009
Ataullah Guerra	November 14, 1987 (1987-11-14) (age 21)	4	1	San Juan Jabloteh	v.  Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009
Lyndon Andrews	January 20, 1976 (1976-01-20) (age 33)	43	0	Ma Pau	v.  Honduras; September 5, 2009
Christopher Birchall	May 5, 1984 (1984-05-05) (age 25)	36	4	Los Angeles Galaxy	v.  Honduras; September 5, 2009
Silvio Spann	August 21, 1981 (1981-08-21) (age 28)	41	2	Wrexham	v.  United States; September 9, 2009
Keon Daniel	January 16, 1987 (1987-01-16) (age 22)	37	8	Caledonia AIA	v.  Costa Rica; October 10, 2009
Forwards
Andre Toussaint	August 26, 1981 (1981-08-26) (age 28)	28	6	W Connection	v.  Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009
Cornell Glen	October 21, 1980 (1980-10-21) (age 29)	59	23	San Jose Earthquakes	v.  United States; September 9, 2009
Jason Scotland	February 18, 1979 (1979-02-18) (age 30)	41	8	Wigan Athletic	v.  United States; September 9, 2009

Competitive record

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.

Player records

Manager history

Name	From	To
Russell Latapy	April 8, 2009[7]	Present
Francisco Maturana	January 4, 2008	April 8, 2009
Wim Rijsbergen	July 11, 2006	December 4, 2007
Leo Beenhakker	March 31, 2005	June 20, 2006
Bertille St. Clair	January 16, 2004	March 31, 2005
Stuart Charles Fevrier	May 15, 2003	January 16, 2004
Zoran Vraneš	April 2, 2003	May 14, 2003
Hannibal Najjar	October 23, 2002	April 1, 2003
Rene Simoes	June 2001	May 2002
Ian Porterfield	March 1, 2000	June 25, 2001
Bertille St. Clair	May 1997	March 2000

Other former managers include the following:

• Anton Corneal
• Everald Cummings
• Ronald La Forest
• Edgar Vidale (1976)
• Zoran Vraneš
• Roderick Warner
• Jan Zwartkruis
• Kevin Verity (1973-1974)
• Americo Brunner
• Jimmy Hill
• Frank Brennan
• Michael Laing
• Casa Grande
• Joachem Figge

Supporters' Groups

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.

See also

Association football portal

• Football in Trinidad and Tobago
• Trinidad and Tobago women's national football team
• Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
• TT Pro League

References

External links

• Official Website
• Soca Warriors Online, National Team
• Soca Warriors, Official Website
• Soca Warrior SSC
• Trinidad & Tobago Football History
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• Trinidad and Tobago at FIFA website

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Trinidad and Tobago national football team squad and manager navigational boxes v • d • e Trinidad and Tobago squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Hislop • 2 Cox • 3 A. John • 4 Andrews • 5 Sancho • 6 Lawrence • 7 Birchall • 8 Gray • 9 Whitley • 10 Latapy • 11 Edwards • 12 Samuel • 13 Glen • 14 S. John • 15 Jones • 16 Wise • 17 Charles • 18 Theobald • 19 Yorke • 20 Scotland • 21 Jack • 22 Ince • 23 Wolfe • Coach: Beenhakker