Trinidad and Tobago national football team
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| Nickname(s) | The Soca Warriors | ||
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| Association | Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation |
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| Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||
| Head coach | Russell Latapy | ||
| Asst coach | Zoran Vraneš Dwight Yorke |
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| Captain | Dennis Lawrence | ||
| Most caps | Angus Eve (117) | ||
| Top scorer | Stern John (69) | ||
| Home stadium | Hasely Crawford Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | TRI | ||
| FIFA ranking | 82 | ||
| Highest FIFA ranking | 25 (June 2001) | ||
| Lowest FIFA ranking | 102 (July 2008) | ||
| Elo ranking | 78 | ||
| Highest Elo ranking | 35 (January 1929) | ||
| Lowest Elo ranking | 116 (September 1987) | ||
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| First international | |||
 Trinidad and Tobago 3–3 Dutch Guiana  (Trinidad and Tobago; August 6, 1934) |
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| Biggest win | |||
 Trinidad and Tobago 11–0 Aruba  (Grenada; June 4, 1989) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||
 Mexico 7–0 Trinidad and Tobago (Mexico City; October 8, 2000) |
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| 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 country currently holds the record of being the smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup Final.
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.
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[edit] History
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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.
[edit] 2010 World Cup qualification: Disappointment
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- The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- Costa Rica advanced to the CONMEBOL/CONCACAF play-off.
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.
[edit] 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 #) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
[edit] 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.
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[edit] 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 |
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| Goalkeepers | |||||
| Clayton Ince | July 12, 1972 | 79 | 0 |  Walsall |
v. United States; September 9, 2009 |
| Defenders | |||||
| Akeem Adams | April 13, 1991 | 3 | 0 | Presentation College, San Fernando |
v. Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009 |
| Keyeno Thomas | December 29, 1977 | 72 | 2 | Joe Public |
v. Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009 |
| Aklie Edwards | June 7, 1985 | 23 | 1 | Defence Force |
v. El Salvador; August 12, 2009 |
| Marvin Andrews | December 22, 1975 | 101 | 10 |  Hamilton Academical |
v. Honduras; September 5, 2009 |
| Jlloyd Samuel | March 29, 1981 | 2 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers |
v. United States; September 9, 2009 |
| Radanfah Abu Bakr | February 12, 1987 | 8 | 1 |  Swansea City |
v. Costa Rica; October 10, 2009 |
| Julius James | July 9, 1984 | 4 | 0 | D.C. United |
v. Costa Rica; October 10, 2009 |
| Midfielders | |||||
| Ataullah Guerra | November 14, 1987 | 4 | 1 | San Juan Jabloteh |
v. Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009 |
| Lyndon Andrews | January 20, 1976 | 43 | 0 | Ma Pau |
v. Honduras; September 5, 2009 |
| Chris Birchall | May 5, 1984 | 36 | 4 | Los Angeles Galaxy |
v. Honduras; September 5, 2009 |
| Silvio Spann | August 21, 1981 | 41 | 2 | Wrexham |
v. United States; September 9, 2009 |
| Keon Daniel | January 16, 1987 | 37 | 8 | Caledonia AIA |
v. Costa Rica; October 10, 2009 |
| Forwards | |||||
| Andre Toussaint | August 26, 1981 | 28 | 6 | W Connection |
v. Saint Kitts and Nevis; July 12, 2009 |
| Cornell Glen | October 21, 1980 | 59 | 23 | San Jose Earthquakes |
v. United States; September 9, 2009 |
| Jason Scotland | February 18, 1979 | 41 | 8 | Wigan Athletic |
v. United States; September 9, 2009 |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Player records
[edit] Most capped playersThe following players have received the caps in national team history:
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[edit] Top scorersThe following players are the top scorers in national team history:
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[edit] 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 |
 René Simões |
June 2001 | May 2002 |
| Ian Porterfield |
March 1, 2000 | June 25, 2001 |
| Bertille St. Clair |
May 1997 | February 2000 |
Other former managers include the following:
- Anton Corneal
- Everald Cummings
- Ronald La Forest
- Edgar Vidale (1976)
- Roderick Warner
- Jan Zwartkruis
- Kevin Verity (1973-1974)
Americo Brunner- Jimmy Hill
- Frank Brennan
- Michael Laing
- Casa Grande
Joachem Figge
[edit] 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.
[edit] See also
- Football in Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad and Tobago women's national football team
- Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
- TT Pro League
[edit] References
- ^ Trinidad and Tobago's Soca Warriors set to give them all in Germany, Guardian UK. Accessed June 23, 2008.
- ^ Football: Carnival time and the Trinis are up for the party, The Independent. Accessed June 23, 2008.
- ^ Trinidad Express - Haitian robbery: Trinidad and Tobago cheated W/Cup spot, Socawarriors.net. Accessed June 23, 2008.
- ^ Red-Day, Nov, 19, 1989, Youtube.com. Accessed: June 23, 2008.
- ^ Pulse: Thank You Trinidad and Tobago Warriors, Trinidad Guardian. Accessed June 23, 2008.
- ^ FIFA Fair Play Awards, FIFA.com. Accessed June 23, 2008.
- ^ Latas in, Maturana out, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, Accessed 2009-04-09.
[edit] 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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