Key PLAYERS

  • Birchallchris_trinidad C Birchall
    Danielkeon_trinidad K Daniel
    Poncemiguelangel_mexico A Guerra
    Williamsjanmichael_trinidad J Williams
    Joneskenwyine_trinidad_from-stoke-city K Jones
    Glenncornell_trinidad C Glen
    Hoytejustin_trinidad J Hoyte
    Jonesjoevin_trinidad J Jones

The GAMES

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Trinidad & Tobago

Joneskenwyne_isi_bpi_stokcityvever.fs4j_web Kieran McManus/isiphotos.com
BY CODY WORSHAM
Trinidad & Tobago are a team in transition. The squad that shows up at the Gold Cup for the first time in six years this summer will feature a new kit, a new crest, and a new coach. Whether or not all that novelty can translate into any new on-field success for a team without a goal in its last 570 minutes of play is another matter entirely.

There are great pieces in play for T&T. Stephen Hart, the former Canadian national team skipper, takes over as the coach of the Soca Warriors, while legendary manager Leo Beenhakker, a 2006 World Cup star, is back as director of football. Experienced veterans like Chris Birchall and Cornell Glen have had success on the world’s biggest stages, while bright young stars Joevin Jones and Atuallah Guerra look ready to make names for themselves.

But success usually takes time, and all these parts have to merge in a matter of weeks, as the Soca Warriors have yet to play a match under its new leadership. Is the Gold Cup the right place to field a new-look squad? Probably not, but as Beenhakker and 2006 squad can attest, anything is possible, and it doesn’t take long for those possibilities to be realized.

The COACH

Goldcup_trinidadtobago_hartstephen_coach

The TACTICS

Goldcup_trinidadtobago_tactics_isi_intdb03272012105

The HISTORY

Goldcup_trinidadtobago_history
Goldcup_trinidadtobago_hartstephen_coach

The Coach

Trinidad-born Stephen Hart returns to the Gold Cup for the fourth time, but it will be his first trip in charge of his native land’s national team. Hart coached Canada in three Gold Cups, including the 2007 semifinalists that lost in controversial fashion to the U.S. Hart coached with Canada in various positions but was the head coach from 2009 to 2012, stepping down after an 8-1 loss to Honduras last October left the team just outside of the 2014 World Cup Qualifying Hexagonal. Trinidad hired Hart in June along with Beenhakker, who coached the squad to an improbable 2006 World Cup berth.
Goldcup_trinidadtobago_tactics_isi_intdb03272012105 David Bernal/isiphotos.com

The Tactics

Size and speed abound in the Soca Warrior squad, but how those weapons will be used remains to be seen. With Canada, Hart—like his T&T predecessors, co-head coaches Jamaal Shabazz and Hutson Charles—favored playing with a compact midfield to clog down opposition attacking lanes and countering with width and pace to dangerous crossers of the ball. That trend may continue this summer.

Based on past experience, personnel and the prep time—or lack thereof—expect Hart and his squad to keep things simple with a 4-5-1 that might look like a 4-4-1-1 at its most offensive. The Soca Warriors have enough physicality in the back to win balls in their defensive third, and if the midfield can provide enough beef—a big "if"—a defensive, counter-attacking style predicated on winning the aerial game and keeping things tight might favor all. If the midfield isn’t up to such a physical task, it has the creativity to make up, but depth and cohesion will make that task difficult.
Goldcup_trinidadtobago_history

The History

Trinidad return to the Gold Cup for the eighth time, but it’s the first trip to the tournament in six years. Last time out, 2006 Caribbean Cup runners-up secured just a single point from a 1-1 draw with Guatemala in Foxborough at the 2007 Gold Cup. Then-head coach Wim Rijsbergen had taken over Beenhakker’s 2006 World Cup qualifying squad. Only the 2000 Soca Warriors made it out of the group, running to the semifinals before falling out to 2000 title-winners Canada 1-0. This team finished as runners-up at the 2012 Caribbean Cup and will hope to improve the last Gold Cup outing during which they held that distinction.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP HISTORY
1991 – Eliminated in first round
1993 – DNQ
1996 – Eliminated in first round
1998 – Eliminated in first round
2000 – Eliminated in semifinals
2002 – Eliminated in first round
2003 – DNQ
2005 – Eliminated in first round
2007 – Eliminated in first round
2009 – DNQ
2011 – DNQ
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