Germany 06: The little Trinidad that could


Day two of the World Cup brought surprises from Trinidad & Tobago, and surprisingly little from England, Sweden and the Ivory Coast. No shortage of goals, though. Click "Read more" for the full report.

(FUTBLOG) I know, soccer doesn't have enough goals for Americans, that's what everybody says. So it was with palpable relief that I watched at work Friday as the first 2006 World Cup game featured a festival of scoring, ending 4-2 in favor of host country Germany. Indeed, even some soccer skeptics at my place of employment were silenced for a while. (I mean you, Bob)
But in fact, of today's three games, the best by far was a scoreless tie, the supposed bane of the sport. The drama of this game far eclipsed anything else so far, as Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago slugged it out for 90 minutes in a nail-biter.
Sweden's national team is stacked with top talent from across Europe's best leagues. There are several playing in top divisions in France, Holland and Denmark. It's strikers come from some of the best teams in the world, Juventus, Ajax and Barcelona. A large number play in England's Premier League, arguably the best league in the world.
Trinidad has players from England, too. The back-up goalkeeper plays for a Premiership team, others are scattered through the lower English leagues. Some players labor in Scotland, Wales and the United States. Many play for Trinidadian teams.
The small island nation is the smallest to ever qualify for the World Cup finals, so three losses would not be unexpected and even ardent fans expected their country to let in goals by the bushelful.
So imagine the spirits of the team as their goalkeeper was injured just before the game and back-up keeper Shaka Hislop entered instead. (The slightly slow commentators at ABC kept calling him Kelvin Jack for about 10 minutes despite their cameras showing the back of his shirt with his name on it several times!)
Trinidad played sloppily in the opening minutes, and it seemed only a matter of time before first-class strikers like Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would score. But the team battled, with 35-year-old midfielder Dwight Yorke - the team's best player in his day - sliding back into defense to settle the rattled nerves there. Hislop began making a string of good saves, and at halftime the score was still 0-0.
Then, just as the second half began, Avery John, a capable defender who plays for Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, got a second yellow card and was ejected. Playing with 10 men to Sweden's 11, Trinidad seemed doomed. But again, their players rallied, both defending well and finally probing forward when able.
Hislop stepped up, his saves becoming better and better. Brent Sancho blocked shot after shot and won header after header. Carlos Edwards was everywhere, in midfield going forward and defending bravely like a right back. Coach Leo Beenhacker put in not a defender, as is typical when down to 10 men, but forward Cornell Glenn, who brought a dangerous element to the counter-attack.
As the minutes ticked away, Sweden became more desperate, going forward but finding nothing but frustration. When the final whistle sounded, the T&T players and fans celebrated as if they had won the World Cup itself.
A 0-0 tie, yes, but who but fans of Sweden could help but be thrilled?

Posted: Sat - June 10, 2006 at 08:58 PM          

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