The first leg of the qualifying play-off between Trinidad and Tobago and Bahrain in Port of Spain will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides and is bound to be a clash of divergent styles. Despite the tactical organisation and defensive assurance introduced after the legendary Leo Beenhakker took over the coaching duties back in April, the Soca Warriors of T&T are still best known for their sultry individual rhythms and attacking flair.
"Their (Bahrain's) style of play makes them a very tricky opponent," Beenhakker recently remarked in an exclusive interview with FIFAworldcup.com. "They have a ferocious defence and are not over-eager about getting forward. They will sit back and wait for the right time to hit on the counterattack. But regardless, we will play to win in both legs (and) play to our strengths."
Bahrain's patient counterattacking system has served them well so far and helped them seal the crucial fifth spot in Asian qualifying. Long considered lovable underdogs, Bahrain fired a warning to the continent in 2005 when they reached the AFC Asian Cup semi-final and their Belgian coach Luka Peruzovic is keen to keep the momentum going.
Looking ahead to the play-offs, he told FIFAworldcup.com: "I've watched some video tapes and to be honest, they (T&T) are a good team." . "They have some highly skilful players and their European-based stars are very experienced. But I believe we have a chance as long as we play to our strengths.
Hubail back in attack
The return of Bahrain's star striker, Alaa Hubail , whom Beenhakker has flatteringly labelled "extremely dangerous", is bound to have Peruzovic smiling. In a team known for their staunch rearguard, sturdy midfield, and never-say-die attitude, the diminutive Hubail adds a much-needed spark and panache in front of goal.
Joint top scorer at last year's Asian Cup, Hubail is Bahrain's top marksman in the Germany 2006 qualifying campaign despite having missed no fewer than six matches through injury. His brief appearances in the last round against Uzbekistan were a good omen for the Gulf team and his brace for Qatari club Al Gharafa at the weekend will have all in Bahrain hoping he is truly back to his old goalscoring self.
Peruzovic also gave indication of his seriousness by leaving out Hubail's fellow striker Naser Duaij, allegedly for putting on too much weight since the play-off against Uzbekistan last month. "This is a decisive moment in the history of this nation and I have no intent of gambling," he said. "Only the players who were fully fit and ready to go were selected." Also out for Bahrain is defender Mohammed Husain, who recently picked up a muscle strain on club duty.
T&T put faith in old guard
Nearly 16 years ago to the day, at the very same Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, T&T came desperately close to reaching their first finals but missed out cruelly on Italy 1990 after a slim loss to the USA. Current squad members Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy were both youngsters in that squad and will be desperate to avoid a similar fate this time around – their closest flirtation with qualification since 1989.
Yorke – a former European Cup winner with Manchester United who currently plays his football in Australia – is a pivotal member of the squad. And it was his fateful phone call to friend and former team-mate Latapy late in the qualifying campaign that helped turn the team's fortunes. Well into his international retirement and player-coach at Falkirk in Scotland, Latapy – one of the smoothest central midfielders ever to come out of the Caribbean – simply could not refuse. And since his return, the 37-year-old has proven the spark that was so obviously missing in the earlier matches.
With his orchestrations in midfield, Yorke and top scorer Stern John have been free to find holes and torment defences, culminating in a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind win over Mexico in which John missed a penalty yet still scored two goals in a magnificent performance.
The meeting in Port of Spain holds one definite worry for the hosts in that they have ten players on yellow cards, meaning another booking in the first leg will put them out of the return game in Manama. Among this number are potential match-turners Yorke and Kenwyne Jones and steely centre-back Marvin Andrews – tipped by Beenhakker to keep a cap on Hubail. Peruzovic, for his part, is worrying about the travel toll on the Bahrain players. Not accustomed to such globetrotting, his team will have to make the bruising trip twice, racking up double the air miles of their opponents.
For both countries, the prize could not be greater - the immortal glory of a debut appearance in a FIFA World Cup finals - and both teams gathered in Trinidad for a week's training camp ahead of the first leg. "We are seven days and 180 minutes away from glory," Beenhakker reminded his Soca Warriors at the first team meeting. The same too can be said for Peruzovic and his Asian hopefuls.