Soca Warriors face Sweden tomorrow

Trinidad and Tobago carry the hope for the Caribbean in this year’s World Cup finals which starts today in Germany.

The lone Caribbean team will have England, Sweden and Paraguay to contend with in the group stage of competition.

The Caribbean team plays Sweden tomorrow June 10, their opening fixture in Group B.{{more}}

Five days later, the ‘Soca Warriors’ meet one time European powerhouse England. The next match for the 47th ranked team on FIFA’s ratings will be against Paraguay, June 20.

Led by Dwight Yorke, Trinidad and Tobago are debutantes in the prestigious tournament.

One of four teams from CONCACAF, the “Soca Warriors” earned their place in for this first time following a 2-1 aggregate win in a play off against Bahrain.

The Soca Warriors had finished third in the CONCACAF group.

Coached by Dutchman Leo Beenhakker, Trinidad and Tobago only had a win over continental giants Mexico and drew with Costa Rica, two qualifiers from CONCACAF.

Leading up to Germany, the Warriors were engaged in friendly internationals.

Thirty-two teams placed in eight groups will play in the June 9 to July 9 showcase. This, the eighteenth edition of the finals since 1930, sees the largest number of teams competing in the final phase. Brazil have won the World Cup on five occasions, Italy and Germany thrice, Uruguay twice, Argentina also on two occasions, while England and France have done so once.