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World Cup qualifying: Trinidad out to avenge Guatemala thumping [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Rio de Janeiro (Reuters) - Former Trinidad & Tobago captain Russell Latapy has come out of international retirement at the age of 37 in a bid to help the Caribbean islanders qualify for their first World Cup.
Latapy is expected to make his surprise return in Saturday's match at home to Guatemala, as the Soca Warriors attempt to avenge a 5-1 defeat earlier in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Panama host Costa Rica in another match on Saturday in the race to follow Mexico and the United States, who meet in Columbus and are all but mathematically qualified, to Germany next year.
Mexico lead the final stage of the CONCACAF zone qualifiers with 16 points from six games and need a draw to book their place with three games to spare.
The US are one point behind and will qualify if they win, although a draw could be enough if Trinidad and Tobago draw with Guatemala and Costa Rica drop points away to Panama.
Mexico's last win away to the US was a 2-1 friendly international in 1999, although in World Cup qualifiers it was in 1972 in Los Angeles, when they won by the same score.
In the scramble for the third direct place are Costa Rica and Guatemala (7 points), Trinidad & Tobago (4) and Panama (2).
The fourth-placed team will have another chance as they play off over two legs against the fifth Asian team -- either Bahrain or Uzbekistan -- for another place.
Latapy, who plays for Scottish premier league Falkirk, played his last international in 2001, but decided to return following a personal appeal from CONCACAF president Jack Warner and Trinidad captain Dwight Yorke.
"This has come about after several long thoughts and sleepless nights following the match against the United States," said Warner, who is also special adviser to the Trinidad federation, over his decision to appeal to Latapy.
LAST CHANCE
Former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara is expected to be in the crowd at the Hasely Crawford stadium in Port of Spain for the game, which is seen as a last chance for the Soca Warriors.
Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker, who was not in charge when Guatemala won 5-1 earlier this year, said his team paid for making too many mistakes.
"I feel, with all my respect, that in the first place Guatemala did not win, Trinidad lost that game because they made many errors that Guatemala took advantage of very well," said the Dutchman.
Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz said: "We have to play intelligently, remembering that Trinidad are playing their final card against us."
Costa Rica, who still have to face Guatemala away, are without their topscorer Paulo Wanchope, who is suspended for Saturday's game in Panama City.
The Ticos are expected to have the backing of at least 5,000 fans who have crossed the border for the game at the Rommel Fernandez stadium.
Panama, who might be missing striker Luis Tejada because of a club-versus-country row, are looking on the game as a last chance.
Tejada recently joined a club in the United Arab Emirates and the Panamanian federation have accused his new team of refusing to let him travel for Saturday's game.
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