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BAHRAIN's national soccer team resumed training last night as eight players were included for their World Cup qualifying play-off matches against Trinidad and Tobago scheduled on November 12 and 16.


Bahrain will travel to Trinidad for the first-leg match in Port of Spain and host the second-leg match four days later at the National Stadium.

Defenders Mohammed Hussain (Al Ahli) and Hassan Abdulla (Al Shabab), midfielders Abdulrahman Mubarak, Mohammed Sa'ad (both Riffa), Fawzi Ayesh (Muharraq), Rashid Al Sheroughi (Al Hala) and Ali Norooz (Manama) and striker Rashid Jamal (Al Najma) were included for last night's practice session at the Bahrain Football Association grounds in Riffa.

Bahrain's physiotherapist Khalil Rabea said four players - goalkeeper Ali Hassan, defenders Hassan Mansoor, Abdulla Al Marzooqi and Saleh Farhan - did not take part in last night's training as they had niggling injuries but confirmed that all players should be fit for the play-off.

The team also missed 11 professionals who are committed to their clubs in Qatar and Kuwait but are expected to report for training on Saturday.

Sponsored by Batelco, Bahrain went down two places in the Fifa rankings list and are presently in 55th position while Trinidad moved up three spots to 53rd place.

Both Bahrain, who finished fifth in Asia, and Caribbean islanders Trinidad, will be desperate to come out on top and make their debut at the World Cup finals in Germany.

With defence likely to hold the upper hand, the Asian side may well be fancying their chances in the upcoming pair of crucial matches.

Some would say that playing at home in the second-leg is a slight psychological advantage, but Bahrain have been on a steadily upward trajectory in recent years and will be keen to give a good account of themselves on the road in the first leg as well.

Certainly their defence, with players like Mohammed Juma, Al Marzooqi and Sayed Mohammed Adnan, looked well-drilled in the play-off with usually potent Uzbekistan, leaking just the single goal.

Building on the progress initiated back in 2002 by German boss Wolfgang Sidka, current coach Luka Peruzovic of Belgium has his side fit, brimming with confidence and keen for a spot in the finals. Never having played Trinidad before, Bahrain can expect a different sort of test as they look to add their name to the list of finalists in Germany.

After the second-leg match against Uzbekistan, coach Peruzovic broke down in tears. "I can't believe it," he sobbed. "I feared we might throw it away in the second half, but the team defended so bravely. I am so proud."

It is not just about defensive steadiness, however. Bahrain have in their team a noted goalscorer in the form of Qatar's Al Gharrafa striker Ala'a Hubail.

The older brother of midfielder Mohammed Hubail who is also playing in Qatar for Qatar Club, was the top scorer at last year's Asian Cup finals.

Only just back from an eight-month injury lay-off, he came on late in both legs against Uzbekistan and caused more than a few headaches despite not being able to find the goal. With some more time to rest, the diminutive striker could well spell trouble for Trinidad's much-scrutinised backline.

On the other side of the globe, Trinidad, oft-times overly reliant on joyful footwork and the carefree rhythms of football in the Caribbean, have found a smart balance of native technique and much-needed organisation under the tutelage of well-travelled Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker.

At the helm since April 2005, the 63-year-old former Real Madrid and Netherlands coach has preached a doctrine of discipline and combined it well with the creativity alive on the sun-soaked streets of football-mad Trinidad.

Defence is still something of a touchy subject for the Soca Warriors. But with former European Cup winner Dwight Yorke and Stern John, who scored both goals against Mexico, roving up front, the islanders are posing a significant threat in attack.

The return of 37-year-old Scotland-based midfield wizard Russell Latapy from semi-retirement has also added a bit of spice going forward.