TTFF NEWS - Ince ready to stop the shots from England

Ince ready to stop the shots from England

 

 

Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Clayton Ince is relishing the chance to line up against the country where he plies his professional trade and this time around he thinks Sunday’s game of special significance to him and his other teammates who are based in the United Kingdom.

 

Ince was on the bench as one of the substitute goalkeepers in Leo Beenhakker’s team which lost out 2-0 to England at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. This time around though he’s lining up as the most experienced of the three goalies in the team with Jan Michael Williams and Marvin Phillip as the other two who have shown a fair amount of promise between the sticks.

 

“It’s definitely a big game for us and for guys like myself and the other boys who play professionally in England I think you’re always waiting on a game like this. Playing England in Port of Spain should be a gripping contest because I think all of us in the Trinidad squad will be really geared up for the match and hoping to turn the tables,” Ince told TTFF Media.

 

“So far I haven’t seen anything to show that there were players based overseas and also local as we have gelled very well so far. I think everyone wants to give their best for Trinidad and Tobago and that can work in our favour,” Ince said.

 

On working alongside two younger custodians in Phillip and Williams, the former Crewe Alexandra and Defence Force shot stopper is hoping to pass on his knowledge and experience.

 

“I want to show them what it is to work hard and be committed and also to keep a cool head when dealing with certain situations. So far they’ve done well and they want to achieve good things. It is important for them to keep on learning and picking up the bits in every session.”

 

Ince added that the “Soca Warriors” will definitely want to give a good account against England with the other friendly against Jamaica and World Cup qualifier against Bermuda on June 15 and 22 also in mind.

 

“I think we all want to ensure that we can give  a good account against a powerhouse like England. We can gain a lot from this match and if we can hold our own and come away with a positive result I think it would be a good boost for the World Cup qualifiers coming up,” Ince added.

 

Sunderland midfielder Carlos Edwards had a full work out with the team at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Sunday while striker Kenwyne Jones also took part but did not extend himself due to the wrist injury. The TTFF Medical staff continues to monitor the big striker and will ensure he does not extend himself during the sessions.

 

Meantime, the English FA has indicated that its national team will give its strongest showing against USA on Wednesday at Wembley and then against T&T.

Fabio Capello has not ruled out taking his Champions League stars to Port of Spain even though he will cut his squad to around 20 players after Wembley's clash with the USA, the Press Association stated.

 

Players from Chelsea and Manchester United joined up with the England squad at London Colney on Saturday but were not included in the main training session.

 

Chelsea captain John Terry, who wasted the chance to win the Champions League by missing his crucial penalty, did not appear at all and is understood to have spent time in the gym instead.

 

The remainder of those players involved in Wednesday night's final underwent some light jogging instead of being included in Capello's main group.

 

But if they were hoping to avoid a long trip to Trinidad, Capello made it clear he wants his players to show the same pride they do for their clubs and will not accept anybody trying to pick and choose their games.

 

"That is my opinion," said Capello. "It is not correct for the other players. When you play for the national team you have to play like it is a final in every game.

 

"Against USA I want to see one team playing like a group, with courage, and strength.

 

"It is very important for me to recover the spirit of the England team. We have 28 players and before we leave for Trinidad, I will choose 20 or 21 players.

 

"Everyone has to come when I select them and these players have to play with the spirit like they do at their clubs. My ambition is to arrive at the top. You have to work to change the mentality. I believe we can do that but the players must also believe.

 

"England had two teams in the Champions League final and they are ambitious teams. You have to transmit the same ambitions in the England team. When a player puts on the England shirt you have to play with a certain kind of spirit and that is very important.

 

"I will play the first 11 who I think are the best players at the moment. It is also very important for the other players.

 

"I will experiment against Trinidad. We have good material here and have been competitive against every team."

 

Capello intends to play with two forwards against the USA with one of them likely to be Wayne Rooney.

 

The England coach is expecting a tough game against the Americans who, he acknowledges, will be a lot fresher than his squad.

 

"The United States are a good team," he added. "In the last three games they have scored seven goals and won the last two against Poland and Sweden. They drew against Mexico and I think it will be a good test for us.

 

"They are a strong national team and it is not easy to play against them at the moment because they have fresh legs and we are tired. But that is not an excuse."

 

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is likely to miss out with a back injury and England called-up Peterborough's Joe Lewis instead of a more senior goalkeeper to give the under-21 international some experience at the top level.

 

David Beckham joined the team on Sunday, after LA Galaxy's game with Kansas City.

 

Striker Michael Owen has been laid low by a virus while Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is out with an ankle problem.

 

 

HARGREAVES: NO ILL FEELING IN SQUAD

 

Owen Hargreaves insisted no ill-feeling existed between the Manchester United and Chelsea players as they reunited for England's end-of-season internationals with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

 

The United midfielder is backing Chelsea skipper John Terry to overcome the agony of missing the decisive penalty in the shoot-out which handed the Red Devils their second Champions League crown under Sir Alex Ferguson.

 

The players experienced similar conditions to those in Moscow last Wednesday evening - driving rain - when they trained ahead of the double-header on Wednesday and Sunday.

 

But there were no visible signs of any hangover being suffered by the Chelsea contingent while the United players were focused on making the right impression under the watchful eye of national team boss Fabio Capello.

 

Hargreaves is adamant the level of respect between the players of both teams, who fought out the titanic struggle in Russia, runs deep after many battles side by side for their country.

 

Hargreaves said: "The Man United players are on a high and the Chelsea players are a bit disappointed, but we are all professional enough to put that aside.

 

"The final has gone and we are a team for England now. We are focusing on the two games with England. We are not focusing on what happened a week ago.

 

"I don't think there is any ill-feeling towards each other. Everyone is friends. We have known each other a long time.

 

"We have spent so much time together at major tournaments. There is a lot of mutual respect for each other.

 

"I am sure it is not easy for Chelsea to forget what happened but they have done a fabulous job this week of not letting anything really get to them and I admire them for that."

 

Hargreaves added that he can already see comparisons between the Italian Capello and Sir Alex Ferguson in terms of the respect they command from players.

 

He said: "Every manager does things differently but Fabio Capello carries that aura of a big coach, which is similar to the boss at Manchester United.

 

"I just think he does things his own way and I think players respect that. Everyone is ready to do their best for him.

 

"All the big managers I've played under, whether at United, Bayer Munich or England are different, but equally they have a similar way of carrying themselves.

 

"That is the way managers at this level do things whether they are from England, Italy or anywhere else.

 

"The players at this level are such big personalities and you need to find a way to get their attention and to get their respect. Both Sir Alex and Fabio Capello do that perfectly.

 

"It is not about fear. But it is important everyone respects each other, players and staff."