Eve accepts underdog tag, wants Warriors to represent T&T’s crime victims

Joel Bailey Friday 22 March 2024 Global Football, National Football, Volley 1 Comment

Angus Eve, coach of the Trinidad and Tobago men’s football team, accepts that his squad will be the underdogs against Canada tomorrow in their 2024 Copa America qualifying play-offs match at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, United States.

The winner of this game, as well as the other match on the day featuring Costa Rica and Honduras, will advance to the 2024 Copa America, which will be staged in the US from 20 June to 14 July.

Canada star Alphonso Davies (centre) celebrates an international goal.

“They (Canada) are hosting the World Cup (in 2026, jointly with the US and Mexico), they are expected to beat us,” said Eve, during a virtual media briefing today. “We are the underdogs and we accept the role. We think they’re going to come hard at us and we’re going to be prepared for it.”

Eve has in-form striker Levi Garcia in his ranks. The AEK Athens forward will be playing his first international game since 16 November 2023 match, when he was a second half substitute in Trinidad and Tobago’s 3-0 away loss to the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Also key to the Soca Warriors’ performance tomorrow will be their defensive solidity, with captain Aubrey David, full backs Andre Raymond and Alvin Jones, and the defensive midfield trio of Andre Rampersad, Daniel Phillips and Neveal Hackshaw expected to feature

Eve said his message to his players would be to boost the hopes of the twin-island republic, in light of the crime wave that engulf the country.

The Soca Warriors prepare for the second half restart during their Concacaf Nations League A clash with Guatemala at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 13 October 2023.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868

“There are a lot of stuff, off the field, that goes on in our country—a lot of situations that we’re not proud of,” said the ex-Trinidad and Tobago midfielder and captain. “Our country is a really beautiful place and we want to represent the beauty of our country.

“We are taking this game as an opportunity to represent every person who has fallen in the last couple of years, based on the type of violence that has been going on in our country.

“The guys are taking this as an opportunity to do something positive, not just for us individually but for the people who have fallen in those times.”

The Copa America will feature 16 teams, 10 from Conmebol (the South America region) and six from Concacaf.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi (centre) is draped in a bisht by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (left) while Fifa president Gianni Infantino looks on, after helping his country to the 2022 World Cup title.

The participants, thus far, are reigning champions Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela from Conmebol.

Hosts United States, Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama represent Concacaf, with the final two qualifiers to be determined this weekend.

“This is an opportunity for us to do something that we’ve never done before,” said Eve. “So, it’s an opportunity to create some history for Trinidad and Tobago football. We see it as an opportunity that we don’t want to miss out on, because we may never have this chance again.

“It’s a massive game for us. We’re in a rebuilding process [for] our team. We went through a lot of struggles off the field and on the field, and I think we’re in a better place now.

Trinidad and Tobago forward Nathaniel James (left) holds off Jamaica defender Joel Cunningham during friendly international action at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on 3 March 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

“We want to show the world that we have young, talented players who can match up with any.”

David, who also spoke at the media briefing, is anxious to feature at the Copa America.

“Our expectation is to win [on Saturday], because, basically, it’s a final,” said David. “We want to win the game and we want to go to the Copa America. It’s a big opportunity for us as a team and as a country, and I think it can help this situation in our country that we’re facing right now.

Trinidad and Tobago defender Aubrey David (left) tries to pass the ball beyond an opponent from The Bahamas during Concacaf Nations League action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 6 June 2022.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)

“We know it’s not going to be easy. The game is going to be challenging but we’re up to the task.”

Eve, and goalkeeper coach Clayton Ince, were part of the Trinidad and Tobago team which lost 1-0 to Canada in the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals.

“I had some good times as a player against them,” Eve said. “We had some bad times like the Gold Cup. That was the furthest that we ever got in the tournament. We missed a penalty so we had an opportunity to possibly win the game.

“Those are some of the highs and lows. It’s always good to compete against these teams.”

Teams (clubs in brackets) –

Trinidad and Tobago:

Goalkeepers: Christopher Biggette (Defence Force), Adrian Foncette (Police FC), Denzil Smith (Club Sando).

Defenders: Aubrey David (Cartagines – Costa Rica), Ross Russell Jr (La Horquetta Rangers), Jesse Williams (Chattanooga – US), Robert Primus (Police FC), Andre Raymond (Vilar de Perdizes – Portugal), Shannon Gomez (San Antonio FC – US), Alvin Jones (Police FC), Justin Garcia (Defence Force).

Trinidad and Tobago players (from left) Reon Moore, Justin Garcia, Denzil Smith and Aubrey David sing the national anthem before kickoff against USA in a CNL tie at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 20 November 2023.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Midfielders: Noah Powder (Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC – US); Daniel Phillips (St Johnstone – Scotland), Real Gill (Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC – US), Kevon Goddard (Defence Force), Neveal Hackshaw (Oakland Roots – US), Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers – Canada), Ajani Fortune (Atlanta United – US), Judah Garcia (AEK Athens – Greece).

Strikers: Nathaniel James (Mount Pleasant – Jamaica), Levi Garcia (AEK Athens – Greece), Reon Moore (Pacific FC – Canada), Kaile Auvray (Mount Pleasant – Jamaica).

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago star attacker Levi Garcia (red shirt) runs at the Guyana defence during an exhibition match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on 29 March 2022.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)

Canada

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers – US), Dayne St Clair (Minnesota United – US), Jonathan Sirois (CF Montreal).

Defenders: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich – Germany), Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers – US), Alistair Johnston (Celtic – Scotland), Derek Cornelius (Malmo FF – Sweden), Moise Bombito (Colorado Rapids – US), Joel Waterman (CF Montreal), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham – US).

Canada forward Cyle Larin celebrates the lone goal in Port-au-Prince as the North American team edged Haiti 1-0.

Midfielders: Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Samuel Piette (CF Montreal), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto – Portugal), Ismael Kone (Watford – England), Mathieu Choiniere (CF Montreal).

Strikers: Cyle Larin (Mallorca – Spain), Jonathan David (Lille – France), Tajon Buchanan (Inter Milan – Italy), Liam Millar (Preston North End – England), Ike Ugbo (Sheffield Wednesday – England), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville SC – US), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus Crew – US), Theo Bair (Motherwell – Scotland).