Trinidad and Tobago will have to leave Port of Spain with a big win on November 12 before meeting Bahrain four days later in the second-leg of their World Cup qualifier play-off at the 30,000 capacity Bahrain National Stadium in the capital city of Manama on November 16.
Bahrain were once one of those soccer nations that used to be the whipping boys of Asia, but have since improved significantly under foreign coaching. Located just East of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is the largest of an interconnected chain of islands. An oil rich Arabic country, Bahrain is one of those few nationals whose currency has more value that the United States dollar, the conversion of which is US$2.67 to one Bahrain Dinar.
Bahrain's qualifying run saw them win one of eight groups in the early stage of Asian World Cup qualifying. The group, which included Bahrain, Syria, Tajikistan and Kryrgyzstan, appeared weak and Bahrain were able to cruise through unbeaten with a record of four wins and two draws in their six matches. That put them in one of four Asian final round qualifying groups, which included Japan, Iran, Bahrain and North Korea.
Against stronger opposition, Bahrain did not fare as well. They got just a 0-0 draw with Iran and a 3-2 victory over the weak North Koreans to finish third in the Stage 3 tournament. That, however, was enough to earn them a fifth play-off with Uzbekistan which they drew 1-1 and 0-0, moving on on away goals to meet Trinidad and Tobago for a place in the 2006 World Cup Finals.Â
Although Bahrain's trip to the play-offs does not seem rather impressive in recent times they have gotten very good results against the top teams in Asia, especially last year when a good Asian Nations Cup run saw them beating the likes of China and Japan. They have also won over the likes of Thailand and Saudi Arabia, teams that have beaten T&T in the past in friendly matches in the Middle East.Â
Last year's positive results saw Bahrain as one of the fastest movers up the FIFA World Rankings and they are now ranked #52 in the world, four places higher than Trinidad and Tobago. Their performances have also seen many of their players getting professional contracts in the oil rich Qatar League, which employs many Brazilians as well. Much of their success has to do with the coming of a German head coach in Wolfgang Sidka, who turned them into a defensive and extremely hard to beak down bunch. They are also reported to be super fit and very quick on the break. They proved their prowess at defending against Uzbekistan, who needed a goal, but could not crack Bahrain at home despite all their efforts. T&T will have to crack that nut at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
Sidka taught Bahrain the importance of fitness and self confidence. During a two-month stint, he turned them into a winning unit at the Asian Cup, before retiring for medical reasons.
Likewise, new coach Luka Peruzovic of Croatia, harps on fitness, but he's described more as a master tactician and has had ten years coaching experience in the Middle East. However, Peruzovic continues to build Bahrain around a solid defence and believes in defeating opponents with good strategy, technique and teamwork. This was confirmed by Uzbekistan coach, Bobby Houghton, who is reported to have said: "They (Bahrain) attacked, but did not leave any spaces for us to exploit."
Their back-line is marshalled by lanky defender Hussain Ali, a 22-year-old, who is also captain of the National Under-23 squad. Ali has said that it is teamwork and the ability to launch swift counter-attacks that has made them dangerous.
"Look at our recent matches in the Olympic and the World Cup qualifiers, most of our goals have come from counter-attacks," he is reported as saying.
Many of their goals have come off the boot of Alaa Habail, who is the "Stern John" of Bahrain. Habail is a noted goalscorer. He has been injured, but is rated so important to their cause that he came back from an eight-month lay-off just for the play-off against Uzbekistan and cause his fair share of worry. He is one T&T may have to get a body on during the November 12 match in Port of Spain.