New Coach Simoes tries to resurrect Costa Ricans against Trinidad & Tobago

Desperate for a victory to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup alive, Costa Rica has turned to former Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago coach Rene Simoes to salvage the Ticos’ chances.

Once alone atop CONCACAF’s final hexagonal stage, the Ticos have lost three straight matches by a combined score of 8-0 and have slipped to fourth in the six-team field, one point behind Honduras heading into Saturday’s next-to-last match against Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose, Costa Rica. “A team that has gained 12 points in five qualifying games in CONCACAF has to be strong,” Simoes said. “South Africa 2010 is still a good possibility for us because Costa Rica still has a strong team.”

The Brazilian, who most recently coached Portuguesa in Brazil’s Serie B, replaced Rodrigo Kenton, who was fired on September 14.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr Kenton for all of the work he has done,” Costa Rica Football Federation president Eduardo Li said at a press conference. “But results are important, and we have not got the right ones over the course of our last three matches.”

Three points on Saturday are vital for the Ticos because their final match is against the United States in Washington on October 14.

The Americans can clinch sixth straight trip to the World Cup with a win in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Saturday night. A fourth-place CONCACAF finish would mean Costa Rica, which is attempting to qualify for a third straight World Cup, would meet the fifth-place finisher in South America — currently Argentina. Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, will attempt to play the role of spoiler Saturday, having already been eliminated.

Russel Latapy, who retired from international football shortly after Simoes was named TT coach in 2001, will use the Soca Warriors’ final two matches as an audition for some of the county’s younger players.

Trinidad and Tobago, which sits at the bottom of the six-team group with five points from eight matches, will host Mexico at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on October 14 in their final qualifying match.

“We want to give some of the younger players the experience of playing at this level,” Latapy said. “It is very possible (that they can play on Saturday).

They are here and they are training. My job is to put the best possible 11 on the pitch and to have the best squad available.”

Among those called into camp is Under-20 captain Leston Paul and Under-17 Shahdon Winchester, while Jlloyd Samuel will miss the match with a pulled groin.

“It’s a pleasure always to be called up to a senior team,” Paul said. “I was invited in the past, but now being here with the rest of the players going into a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica is definitely something more intense and of a higher experience.” (CONCACAF.com)