Mind Games

Way back in March (how time flies when you’re obsessed) I posted my first installment of the Soca Warriors’ Supporters Handbook. The emphasis was on “pysching out” our Group B opponents.

Beenhakker is a master psyche-ologist. Some examples of the Warrior Chief’s expert chain-ups*:

“I’m convinced, we can shock the world,’’ Beenhakker told ESPN.com. “On paper, no one expects us to do anything in Germany. Yet, the advantage is we don’t play this game on paper and if we have some good preparation, we can cause some surprises.”

When asked why he thought there were so many Dutch managers and coaches at the finals: “Because we are so good.”

“People ask me: ‘What do you think of the prospect of confronting Germany in the second round? But, really, who’s to say Germany are going to get into the second round?”

“We will play with a smile, a lot of courage and a lot of pride. Sometimes you can compensate for what you lack in ability with those qualities. Sometimes the so-called smaller team can beat the bigger team.”

Beenie’s tactics have also baffled some. Swedish defender Olof Mellberg says that he’s “surprised” by Beenhakker’s decision to play Yorke in a defensive-midfield position. Mellberg also thinks that “Trinidad will defend quite deep and try and make it hard for us to find space.”

You can count on it.

Vibes it Soca Warriors. Vibes up, Warrior Nation!
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* Chain-up – v. – 1) To fool someone into believing something untrue or unlikely, e.g. “Boy, I telling you, England is going to win the World Cup this year!”
2) To persuade someone to commit to a course of action against his better judgement, e.g. “Doh study your exam, lewwe go Germany quick-quick and take in the scene. We’ll come back in enough time for you to study, serious.”
3) Trash talking, Trinidad style