“Trinidad has a big advantage but I think our players have the spirit and they understand how important it is for them to pull off what I think will be one of the biggest sporting achievements for their country.”
A former head coach of T&T and an assistant for part of the 2002 final round, Vranes has been in charge of the Vincentians for their four three matches, 7-0 and 1-0 losses to Mexico and 1-0 and 6-2 wins over St Kitts/Nevis and Grenada. Now he’s here to try to pull off a win by three clear goals which will send “Vincy Heat” into the final round of qualification for the first time ever and send the “Soca Warriors” crashing out.
Already missing key English-based striker Rodney Jack through injury, Vranes was quick to point out that his team has played even better without Jack in the past two games.
“Unfortunately we have no Rodney Jack who is a very good player but we have other players who have done well and I think if you look at our last two games against Grenada and St Kitts, you can see that the team fought and played better. We have no Jack but you have no (Stern) John so it’s an even state. We have nothing to lose so let’s now see how the game will finish,” Vranes told TTFF Media.
“I could say it’s one of our biggest games. We came here to do our best and try to do something we’ve never done. We have come to do something, which in reality, is almost impossible but football is football and anything can happen in 90 minutes.”
Vranes has worked with almost the entire T&T line up for Wednesday’s game and while he confessed that he would back them through to the Germany 2006 if they were to progress, he made it no secret that he’s well aware of their weak points.
“We are aware that Trinidad has some weaknesses but of course I respect them because I know the players very well. Now I am coach of another country and I am here to playa against what I would also say is like my second home and I will try my best to do something good for St Vincent. If Trinidad goes further that will be good but if maybe we can realize our dream, that would be even greater.”
He got a final run out on the Hasely Crawford Stadium field on Tuesday night while the “Soca Warriors” had an earlier session. His opposite number, Bertille St Clair, who has also coached St Vincent in the past, has no fears about Wednesday’s clash.
“We got the win in their backyard and now we are home, what reason is there for us to not get another victory? We certainly will not be making it easy for them because in the past we have tend to come off the gas a bit when we play these kind of teams especially when we already have an advantage, but tomorrow things will be different. We want a convincing win,” St Clair said.
John was in touch with his teammates. “The last time around we went to St Vincent and got a 2-0 win and that should say something about the team's character. So I definitely do not think that we will allow them to cause any sort of upset in our backyard. I'll be there too in spirit to make sure," he added with a laugh.
Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews came in on Monday night while Anthony Rougier was scheduled in on Tuesday to complete the squad for the encounter.
Guatemalan Carlos Batres will carry the whistle with countryman Francisco Ortiz and Reynaldo Salinas running the lines.
T&T squad:
Clayton Ince, Daurance Williams, Brent Sancho, Marvin Andrews, Dennis Lawrence, Derek King, Anthony Rougier, Brent Rahim, Angus Eve (capt), Kenwyne Jones, Denzil Theobald, Scott Sealy, Errol McFarlane, Hector Sam, Jerren Nixon, Silvio Spann, Avery John, Ian Cox.
St Vincent Squad:
Joseph Benford, Rolton Williams, Kendall Velox, Renson Haynes, Wesley John, Howie Williams, Rodney Francois, Cornelius Huggins, Ezra Hendrickson, Matthew Charles, Vincent John, Shandel Samuel, Jamal Ballantyne, Bevan Burgin, Tyrone Prince, Alwyn Guy, Matthew Forde, Melvin Andrews.