PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - National coach Leo Beenhakker on Wednesday announced the initial 24-man squad to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany in June.

However, the Dutchman will omit one player before submitting his final 23-man squad to FIFA on May 15 for the June 9 to July 9 world showpiece.

The squad includes most of the players who were a part of the historic 1-0 victory over Bahrain in the Persian Gulf state last November.

"Before making the final choice of 23, we did our homework the best we could," Beenhakker said.

"I have to protect the players also who brought us to Germany. They have to be credited. And there must be balance in the team."

The lone omission from the historic squad which qualified in Bahrain is Kansas City Wizards striker Scott Sealy, who is on the standby list.

Veteran former captain Anthony Rougier is the one surprise in the squad, but Dundee winger Collin Samuel has been included following a good showing in Trinidad and Tobago's 2-0 victory over Iceland in London last month.

Beenhakker explained that from looking at past footage he realised there were no players in his squad with Rougier's characteristics and felt the player had done enough fitness-wise over the last few months to be included in the squad.

Several players will join Sealy on the standby list, including Fulham's Anthony Warner, Kiruana's Nigel Henry, Swindon Town's Ricky Shakes, Port Vale's Hector Sam and Anton Pierre of Defence Force.

The 24-man squad will go into camp for the May 10 friendly international against Peru in Port of Spain, after which the squad will be whittled down to 23.

T&T will undertake camps in England, Austria and Czech Republic before heading on to Germany.

They kick off their campaign against Sweden on June 10 before taking on England (June 15) and Paraguay on June 20.

GOALKEEPERS - Kelvin Jack (Dundee) , Shaka Hislop (West Ham United), Clayton Ince (Coventry City).

DEFENDERS - Cyd Gray (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Glasgow Rangers), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Ian Cox (Gilligham), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Avery John (New England Revolution).

MIDFIELDERS - Silvio Spann (Unattached), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Rougier (Petrotrin), Anthony Wolfe (Jabloteh), Densil Theobald (Falkirk).

FORWARDS - Carlos Edwards (Luton Town), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC), Russell Latapy (Falkirk), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampon), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell Glen (LA Galaxy).

STANDBY PLAYERS - Anthony Warner (Fulham), Nigel Henry (Kiruana FF), Ricky Shakes (Swindon Town), Hector Sam (Port Vale), Scott Sealy (Kansas City Wizards), Anton Pierre (Defence Force), Brent Rahim (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh).

TECHNICAL STAFF:

Head Coach - Leo Beenhakker
Assistant Coach - Wim Rijsbergen
Assistant Coach - Anton Corneal
Goalkeeping Coach - Michael Maurice
Football Manager - Hans Hagelstein
General Manager - Bruce Aanensen
Assistant Manager - George Joseph

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