Okay, so we did not actually score, at least not in our competitor’s goal, but we showed we would be able to.

We brought all a taste of the Caribbean football, a little unexpected tactics, some strange moves from time to time, a world-class of superb quality goalkeeping in all games and supporters that will be remembered.

When entering the foreign towns, the Soca Warriors supporters got fame, not by asking the German locals where the stadium is but rather asking them where the party is.

And a party we have had.

It was a first experience in many ways for masses of people and the end result, in my belief, is that Trinidad versus the World has ended in a win-win.

We have learned to come out and show ourselves from our best side and the world has for some re-acquainted themselves with our beautiful country, sport and culture and for some others they have had a first-hand experience of the Soca Warriors they will not likely forget.

There is no English football team who will forget the Soca Warriors when our guys play in the UK leagues and there is no Swedish tourist arriving in Tobago who can possibly forget which country earned respect when playing against them in 2006.

When the name of Trinidad and Tobago resounds in people’s memories, whether it is for business or pleasure, then I think the world will remember a nation of courage, tenacity, eagerness and a certain joie de vivre, joy of life.

That will be our legacy until South Africa 2010, and I tell you, it is not a bad start for a beginner in the World Cup Finals.

So what is next?

In 2010 the eyes of billions of television viewers, an estimated three million international visitors and the cream of the world’s sporting media will be focussed on the southern tip of Africa.

It is the task of our football specialists to get our Soca Warriors ready for this next step in our “goal” for world fame.

We have stepped into the arena and should not step out of it again.

We have a full four years to prepare ourselves for this next ambition and should not take it lightly.

We have shown our capacity to get to the finals and to make ourselves count at the games, now let’s show how we can also return there, that should be our next goal.

In true Trini style, though, we will still savour our small victories for a while against the odds from this time round, but when the partying stops and we sit back in our benches, the 2010 South Africa should be, can be, and come on, WILL BE our next achievement in amazing the wonderful world of football.

Kaiserslautern has reportedly received its name from the favourite hunting retreat of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1155 until 1190.

The Lauter was then an important river that made the old section of Kaiserslautern an island in medieval times.

Hmnn, as I thought about it before the match.

The Warriors are now going to play in a town that can mean emperor’s river and once was an island?

Well that is a better Trini version than the one I heard an English fan say last night about it being the place where we would be slaughtered as it meant Emperors Slaughtered.

Wait ... if I use their meaning then it would imply that the English fans think of the Warriors as emperors?

Interesting, as it is a big change to the original feeling, that we were just there to make up numbers.

I guess our showing against Sweden and their own country has finally made them and the rest of the world stand up and take notice.

Fellow reporters have told me that there has never been an uninteresting match in this town.

I know after this match, the reputation of this town stays untarnished.

No one can deny that my Warriors played with the passion and vigour that we as a country have come to known them to do.

Unfortunately, it was not enough. I do believe, that if we had shown that agility and control that we displayed in the second half in the first half.

We would have won the match, but even that is a mute point.

Back home, I know my fellow nationals are supporting our team’s efforts.

What a shocker it would have been if we had won and still not qualified.

I mean, no one would ever have expected the Swedish and English to tie 2-2.

How convenient.

I mean I must think that somehow England wanted to keep us out or moreso keep Sweden in … they must have not played their best … how else can one explain that they could not defeat the Swedes?

One of my Trini friends just texted me and said: “If Trinidad matched Sweden and Sweden matched England, then is it not obvious that Trinidad is just as good as England despite their so-called win over us?”

Sounds likes her mathematical approach to football can have some foundation.

Using that analogy, it would imply that had Sancho not have his hair pulled, then we might as well have held England to a draw.

Now, carrying that analogy a bit further had Sancho hair not be pulled, then we would not have been one down and then we would have played differently and then we would not have gone two down.

Poor Sancho with his pulled hair, he was unable to avoid his head from now touching the ball and sending it towards the net.

You saw that pull … that must have hurt ... amazing.

First they went after poor Dwight’s sensitive parts and then Sancho’s hair. What am I talking about?

Remember Bayern Munich’s Julio Dos Santos who unlocked the door to goal for Paraguay in the 25th minute?

Well, he had his effort backheaded into Kelvin Jack’s goal by Trinidad and Tobago defender Brent Sancho.

So let’s set that goal aside.

That means that Paraguay really got 1-0, but was there not an attempt by Stern that was ruled as an off-side (if that had been allowed), then it would have been 1-1, so Trinidad and Paraguay would really have drawn; which means that really in Group B, no team was really better than little old Trinidad and Tobago, but due to some questionable calls by referees and some hair-pulling (rather than hair-raising) incidents, Trinidad and Tobago would have been into the second round.

We have heard some people say that there was no way a team with net players worth of 20 million ever be allowed to get ahead of teams with net worth of 1 billion. Interesting.

All in all, I cannot say my team has let me down, my guys have risen to the occasion.

They have set our country on the football map. And for that I salute them all.

I have heard that our Prime Minister has said that when we all return home, we will witness a celebration as has never been seen before. I called home after the match and no one was there, they had all gone to celebrate. As our PM said: “The level of patriotism reached benchmark status.

“We have proved to the world that no team could score more than two goals against us.”

And, in fact, no team could score more than 1 true goal against us. The message on the answering machine reflected what we all feel as a nation.

“Tell them we reach!”