Team: Trinidad & Tobago

Bright lights to dazzle Yorke and co

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Coach: Leo Beenhakker
Captain: Dwight Yorke
Winners: Never - World Cup debutantes
Pitted against: Sweden, England and Paraguay
Prospects: In short, none. A single point from the group stage would represent a worthwhile achievement
Odds: 1000-1

"I was very excited as it's every boy or man's dream to play at the World Cup. It's the biggest thing in the world. The best 32 teams play in it. It makes you feel like all the work is paying off. For me, it was always a dream. When it would happen, I never knew. Everything happens for a reason at the right time. This is my time. The hopes and the dreams have finally come true."

The words there of former Longford Town, Bohemians and Shelbourne defender Avery John who, along with a number of team-mates, may well have sensed their best days were behind them, but now, suddenly face into the greatest competition of them all. A fine achievement indeed for a former eircom League star plying his trade with the smallest country ever to qualify for the finals, writes Paul O'Hehir

But the Trinidadians have trodden a long path to get here. They were close to qualifying for Italia 90 but lost to the United States in a play-off and, as a result, quickly fell off the football radar. Since then, there has been little to cheer in Port of Spain where cricket dominates the sporting headlines in a country whose population is less than Dublin.

Recently, though, there has been a considerable upsurge in fortunes with more promising players figuring in foreign leagues - albeit in the lower tiers - thus ensuring a higher standard. However, it was the arrival of former Holland and Real Madrid manager Leo Beenhakker that spurred the 'Soca Warriors' on to reach its greatest heights.

Following two defeats and a draw in their first three matches of Concacaf qualifying, T&T soccer officials felt Bertille St Clair's reign had run its course. They swiftly appointed Beenhakker who, in a remarkably short space of time, completely transformed the side into a Caribbean force to be reckoned with.

It wasn't an easy task. Beenhakker encountered a squad with numerous faults, none more so than their lack of discipline and stunning disregard for team unity. He inherited a team of individuals, some of whom were at odds with basic concepts of the game, but, nevertheless, quickly moulded a cohesive unit more in tune with the requirements of the modern game.

In no time at all, T&T had turned a considerable corner and secured a World Cup play-off by finishing fourth in their qualifying group. Played over two-legs, they beat Bahrain 2-1 with Wrexham defender Dennis Lawrence heading home the winning goal which subsequently prompted a national holiday and wild, wild celebrations back home.

The 1000-1 quote afforded by bookmakers is, unquestionably, an accurate reflection of Trinidad & Tobago's chances but with experienced men such as former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, Coventry's Stern John and Shaka Hislop of West Ham in their ranks they could yet be capable of an upset.

As one leading T&T soccer official put it recently: "We shall make Fifa proud, we shall make Concacaf proud, but most importantly will we make this nation proud. Trinidad and Tobago will light up Germany like no other country ever has or ever will."

World Cup Squad: Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Clayton Ince (Coventry); Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Cyd Gray (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho, Ian Cox (both Gillingham), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution); Silvio Spann (unattached), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Wolfe (Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC); Russell Latapy (Falkirk), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell Glen (Los Angeles Galaxy).