YORKE
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
TRINIDAD AND Tobago haven't beaten Mexico in five years, but the Caribbean nation desperately wants a win today to boost its chances of qualifying for its first World Cup.
The teams will square off before an expected capacity crowd at the 20,000-seat Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad's capital, Port-of-Spain.
Mexico have already qualified for next year's World Cup in Germany and lead the CONCACAF group heading into the final qualifier.
For Trinidad, a victory would send them to a play-off against the winners of the Asian series between Uzbekistan and Bahrain for a World Cup spot, which would be a first for the country of 1.3 million.
It won't be easy. Trinidad have only beaten Mexico twice in 10 meetings, the last victory coming in 2000. Trinidad lost
2-0 at Mexico in June.
The twin-island nation is feeling good after a 1-0 win over Panama on Saturday, but team captain Dwight Yorke cautioned against feeling overconfident.
GIVE IT EVERYTHING
"We are not in Germany yet and we must still go out there and give it all we've got for the full 90 minutes against one of the best teams in the world," Yorke said on Monday after a training session.
Trinidad could lose to Mexico and still advance to the play-off if Guatemala lose to Costa Rica in another qualifier today. If Trinidad lose and Guatemala win, Guatemala would advance to the play-off. If Trinidad draw and Guatemala win, Guatemala would advance on a goal difference.
"I cannot control what happens ... between Guatemala and Costa Rica, but we will be keeping an ear open for developments in that game and if we get news of what's happening there, we will then adjust our tactics here to suit the developments," Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker said.
Mexico, who beat Guatemala 5-2 on Saturday, had a light workout yesterday after arriving the night before. The team held a final training session last night.
Trinidad will be without starting defender Silvio Spann, who will sit out the match after picking up a second yellow card against Panama.
