Trinidad and Tobago’s senior men’s Head coach, Angus Eve, believes that the recent triumph in the CONCACAF Nations League over the United States will provide a significant boost to his team’s development as they prepare for the Copa America play-in encounter against Canada in March.
Despite a 4-2 aggregate loss in the overall quarter-final tie to the United States, Eve and his Soca Warriors found solace in their impressive 2-1 victory in the second leg, held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Monday.
While the United States secured spots in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals and the Copa America, along with Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama, Trinidad and Tobago is now set to face Canada. Honduras will oppose Costa Rica to determine the final two CONCACAF representatives for the prestigious Copa America.
The underdog role
The upcoming match against Canada presents the Soca Warriors with another opportunity to embrace the underdog role, but Eve and his players are eagerly anticipating the challenge ahead, fueled by their confidence-boosting win.
“This result significantly contributes to building the team’s confidence. Every time the guys play, their confidence grows. When they face an opponent like this and produce such a performance and result, it instills further belief in themselves,” remarked Eve.
Eve also praised the leadership of captain Aubrey David, who assumed the team captaincy after the retirement of Kevin Molino. David’s contributions on and off the field have been crucial.
A step in a positive direction
“This is a fantastic result for us considering where we are in our development,” noted the tactician.
David, at 33, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress, saying, “I think it is a step in a positive direction for us to get the win. This is the last FIFA window for the year, so I think we have ended the year on a good note, and the players have a lot of belief amongst themselves that we can compete against the likes of the US and these teams.”
While celebrating the victory against the US, David acknowledged that the team’s ultimate goal was to qualify for the Copa America tournament, which they have another opportunity to pursue in March.
League A Best XI
In the spotlight against the United States was defender Alvin Jones, named in the League A Best XI for the window, who impressed with a powerful right-footed free kick in the second half.
“Scoring the winner against the US at home is a significant achievement for me, and this month holds great emotional significance for our country,” said Jones, referencing the 34th anniversary of the 1989 World Cup qualifier between the Strike Squad and the United States.
“We have a wealth of young talent emerging, and it’s about coaching and nurturing them. This win can boost our confidence as we look ahead to the next round and our quest to qualify for Copa 2024,” Jones concluded.
