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Just 48 hours after the unsuccessful 1-1 draw with Peru, Trinidad and Tobago national team coach Leo Beenhakker selected players and announced the final squad that will travel to the World Cup in Germany.
Defender Anthony Rougier, who did not make it into the final squad of 24 from the preliminary selection, has now been included. Rougier, who plays for the local Trinidad and Tobago club "United Petrotrin," was initially invited to the training camp in January but now, after a conversation with the player, the coach expressed his difficult decision.
"The guy worked fantastic and did everything he could to make it to the team, but I still had to make a decision. He proved that he is a true professional, but his abilities were not enough to make it into the main squad," said the Dutch coach.
However, one forced change in the Trinidad and Tobago squad could still happen - if Los Angeles Galaxy striker Cornell Glen does not recover from an Achilles injury in time, he will be replaced by Evans Wise, who is playing in Germany and has joined the team as an alternate.
Unsatisfied with the draw against Peru, L. Beenhakker admitted that his team will have to work hard at the training camp in Manchester on Sunday. After a week of training, Trinidad and Tobago will play against Wales on May 27, followed by a match against Slovenia four days later, and then against the Czech Republic in Prague on June 3, before their final friendly match against "St. Pauli" club in Hamburg on June 5.
The "Soca Warriors," as the Trinidad and Tobago national team is called, have been placed in Group B in the World Cup final tournament and will face England, Sweden, and Paraguay. In their first match in Dortmund on June 10, L. Beenhakker's team will play against Sweden.
Trinidad and Tobago national team:
Goalkeepers: Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Clayton Ince (Coventry).
Defenders: Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Cyd Gray (Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Atiba Charles (Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution).
Midfielders: Silvio Spann (unattached), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (Jabloteh), Anthony Wolfe (Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Russell Latapy (Falkirk).
Forwards: Dwight Yorke (Sydney), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell Glen (Galaxy).
Alternate: Evans Wise (Waldhof)
