Cuban national team coach Reinhold Fanz thinks his team can beat the United States in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, but “you need a little bit of luck,” he told Doug McIntyre in Havana. Fanz added that “we had no luck against Trinidad” in the semifinal round’s opening game, and consequently they lost 3-1.
True, the Cubans did outshoot their opponents 18-5, but didn’t find the net until the 88th minute, far too late for a comeback. Another home loss would see its World Cup campaign as good as over. “We need to fight for three points,” said veteran defender Silvio Minoso. “If we can’t get three, then at least one. It’s important to get points because we lost the first game.”
Fanz said he could understand why the game is important for the country, but stressed that “it’s more important that we get three points. We have five games left and we need nine or ten points if we want to go to the next round. The team from the USA is physically and tactically strong. But I think my boys know what they have to do. If we don’t make mental mistakes, we have a chance.”
Only 4,000 showed up for the Trinidad & Tobago game, but more are expected in the 28,000-capacity Estadio Pedro Marrero. Admission is free.