Nil-nil… but what a game eh? (2)

(Guest blogger Roshan Jason enjoyed watching minnows Trinidad and Tobago playing Sweden to a scoreless game. He is even more pleased that a particular Malaysian pundit got it wrong.)



The first scoreless match at the 2006 World Cup and what a match it was!

Tiny Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of over a million people only, swept aside countless attacks by Sweden’s world-class strikers, to make history.

T&T secured their first ever World Cup point in their first ever World Cup. The match itself was a great one to watch. This is why I watch football. There may have not been that many skillful moves or superb goals but there was a lot of heart displayed on the field.

Sweden, who came into the match as favourites, did all they possibly could to score against the football unknowns but T&T’s defenders, goalkeeper as well as midfielders stopped them cold in their tracks.

What’s more, T&T played with 10 men towards the last part of the match. Shakla Hislop – T&T’s goalkeeper – was magnificent in goal. He made a least half a dozen wonderful saves. What’s more admirable is that he was initially lined up as the reserve keeper but only got the nod to start 10 minutes before the game when the first choice keeper hurt himself in the pre-game warm up. To come on knowing you weren’t trusted to be first in goal and yet perform with so much concentration and belief – was just respectable.

T&T even had a shot hit against the crossbar in the 58th minute. What impressed me most was that T&T players could really play good football. They passed the ball well – especially long, accurate passes to their lone-striker.

The fans – from both sides – were a large contributor to the atmosphere. After watching this, the 4th match of the tournament, I can safely say I was entertained the most today. This after a drab England – Paraguay game, was reason enough to stay up till the early morning (in my part of the world) for a football game.

There also needs to be special mention to former Manchester United favourite Dwight Yorke. The aging-striker, now converted to a midfielder – was at the very heart of T&T’s game. Not only was his smile infectious on the other players on the pitch, Yorke provided a master-class midfield display with a lot of good holding of the ball, changing of game pace and hard-working tracking back to defend. Perhaps United should look no further for a replacement to Roy Keane.

Whether or nor T&T are able to repeat this over the next two group games is left to be seen but from today’s game it was enough for me to root for them.

Credit also to veteran coach Leo Beenhakker, who may end-up doing a Gus Hiddink (when coaching South Korea in 2002).

The final icing on the cake for me was how the pundits got it absolutely wrong – especially Malaysia’s very own Shebby Singh – who showed little respect to the T&T team by predicting a routing for Sweden.

Let’s hope all pundits, football fans and players alike take a lesson from this game. Football has gone global and is no longer conquered only by European or South American teams. Remember Senegal, Korea and Japan in 2002?

I’m gearing myself up for another good match coming up shortly – Ivory Coast vs Argentina and I won’t be surprised if Drogba and gang take inspiration from T&T and go out there and show the world that the ball is round and anyone, I mean anyone, can entertain on the pitch. And sometimes – you don’t need to score to do so.

(Roshan Jason is an avid football fan (surprise, surprise!). He’s been kicking a ball ever since he can remember and has improved his game over the years by not only getting in games but also by attentively watching the professionals play. He really wishes he had taken a leave of absence for the upcoming World Cup.)