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Trinidad and Tobago National Men’s Senior Team head coach Stephen Hart has backed his troops to overcome an expected temperature of 40 degree celsius plus second game complacency when the “Soca Warriors” face Cuba tomorrow from 3.30 pm (6.30 pm TT time) at the University of Phoenix.
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
The Warriors will advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal round for the second successive tournament and the third third time overall with a draw and a win against the fellow Caribbean outfit.
Trinidad and Tobago gunned down Guatemala 3-1 in Chicago on Thursday night while the Cuba team was whipped 6-0 by Mexico.
However, Hart, who also led the Warriors at the 2013 edition, warned his players not to become complacent against a Cuban team troubled by visas issues and a defection.
“Traditionally (in) our second game after a win, we have a tendency to lose focus and concentration,” Hart told the TTFA Media. “Nothing comes easy in a tournament. In a tournament environment anything can happen. I keep trying to remind them about that.
“They have to play this next game as if it’s a final because this game guarantees you’re going to the knockout stage and that’s where everyone wants to be.”
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
The Warriors roared to a three goal lead over Guatemala within the first half hour but were on the back foot for much of the second half and were lucky to concede just one item from opposing captain Carlos Ruiz.
Hart expects his players to build on their positives and avoid repeating errors committed in the Gold Cup opener.
“It is a matter of different game, different time and different environment,” said Hart, “and what we have to do is improve on the things that we did well and cut down on the number of errors we made in crucial parts of the field.”
Warriors captain Kenwyne Jones suggested his team will get the job done.
“It’s important for us to get another good result and book our place in the next stage,” said Jones. “I think at the moment we know what it will take. And, come game time, we will take the game on its own merit and do what is required of us.”
(Copyright AFP 2014/Rich Schultz)
Hart, who also took Canada to two quarterfinals and a semifinal spot, has never failed to advance past the group stage from four previous attempts.
He expects to have all 23 players at his disposal tomorrow and does not think the weather should be an excuse.
“Both teams will be accustomed to the conditions,” said Hart. “Even though it’s that hot over here, we’ll get on with it. We have no excuses.”
The University of Phoenix Stadium holds 63,400 patrons and has a retractable roof. It is designed to appear like a coiled rattlesnake.
Hopefully, it will be the Warriors who strike decisively there.
(Copyright Jonathan Daniel/AFP 2015)
(Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup team)
Goalkeepers: 21.Jan-Michael Williams (Central FC), 1.Marvin Phillip (Point Fortin Civic), 22.Adrian Foncette (Police FC);
Defenders: 6.Radanfah Abu Bakr (HB Koge—Denmark), 18.Yohance Marshall (Juventud Independiente—El Salvador), 4.Sheldon Bateau (KV Mechelen, Belgium), 17.Mekeil Williams (W Connection), 5.Daneil Cyrus (W Connection), 2.Aubrey David (Shakhter Karagandy—Kazakhstan), 3.Joevin Jones (Chicago Fire—USA);
Midfielders: 14.Andre Boucaud (Dagenham & Redbridge—UK), 8.Khaleem Hyland (KVC Westerlo—Belgium), 15.Dwane James (North East Stars), 19.Kevan George (Columbus Crew—USA), 11.Ataulla Guerra (Central FC), 20.Keron Cummings (North East Stars);
Forwards: 9.Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City—UK), 13.Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes—USA), 23.Lester Peltier (Slovan Bratislava—Slovakia), 10.Willis Plaza (Central FC), 16.Rundell Winchester (Portland Timbers 2—USA), 7.Jonathan Glenn (IBV—Iceland), 12.Kadeem Corbin (St Ann’s Rangers).
Looking on is teammate Khaleem Hyland (right).
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Gold Cup fixtures
Group C
(Sun Jun 12)
Trinidad and Tobago v Cuba, 6.30 pm, Phoenix;
Mexico v Guatemala, 9 pm, Phoenix.
2015 Gold Cup results
Group A
Panama 1 (Alberto Quintero 55), Haiti 1 (Duckens Nazon 85) in Dallas;
United States 2 (Clint Dempsey 25, 64), Honduras 1 (Carlos Discua 68) in Dallas;
(Courtesy MexSport/CONCACAF)
Panama 1 (Luis Tejada 20), Honduras 1 (Andy Najar 81) in Boston;
United States 1 (Clint Dempsey 47), Haiti 0 in Boston;
Group B
El Salvador 0, Canada 0 in California;
Jamaica 2 (Gareth McCleary 13, Jobi McAnuff 48), Costa Rica 2 (Roy Miller 33, David Ramirez 37) in California;
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Group C
Trinidad and Tobago 3 (Sheldon Bateau 11, Cordell Cato 15, Joevin Jones 25), Guatemala 1 (Carlos Ruiz 61) at Chicago;
Mexico 6 (Oribe Peralta 16, 36, 61, Carlos Vela 22, Andrés Guardado 43, Giovani Dos Santos 74), Cuba 0 at Chicago;
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If we have to progress to win the entire thing, I think now is the time to move bakr out of the cb to the wing back or defensive midfield position. I think that this is the game to do it. I predict that Hart would go all out for the first twenty to twenty five minutes and then revert to a 4-5-1 to grind out a point if he does and doesn’t get a goal. He could be thinking of glycogen levels for the remainder of the tournament and keeping key players cardless and injury free. I foresee much defending and maybe a 3-2 score line in favour of T&T if it comes to that. He is quite capable of managing his resources throughout this tournament and has spent quite a lot of time with key players so he knows how to get the best out of them. Its do or die for kenwyne’s international career so he has to score.
40 degrees! Poor guys.
Trinidad and Tobago 4 vs Cuba 0 and I done talk. Ain’t no stopping us now..Good vibes.
You’d score a hattick… 2 with the right n a chip with the left!!! Thank you for coming !!!
Not getting to the next round is unacceptable at this stage.
These guys.. hart was complaining about the team fitness all he needs is a week with them in the valley. Gcu university free of charge I’d make it happen
Message me when it’s 120 farenhite
Juice Julien as if 40 degrees ever stopped us lol
Such a untrue headline. No way that game is playing with a open roof at 40 degrees. I guarantee trinidad playing in a close roof stadium in SC.
Who said anything about whether the roof will be opened or closed? All that was given was the estimated temperature in Phoenix for tomorrow at kick off, which is 40 degrees celsius.
Anything less than a win is unacceptable… end of story
A draw will work. But three points would be better.
Three points vs Cuba is a must
How very Trini! No discussion of what would happen should we lose. Having got such a bad cutarse from Mexico, we seem to be thinking, Cuba cyar possibly bounce back to beat we. How very Trini!