AS THE UNITED States reflects on World Cup qualification failure, Jack Warner has called their defeat to Trindad and Tobago “the happiest day of my life”.
The controversial former Concacaf president, who is a T&T native, claims he was ready to party after seeing the U.S reduced to a “laughing stock”.
A 2-1 reversal in their final qualification fixture, along with a 2-1 win for Panama over Costa Rica, has left the USA facing up to a first absence from football’s global showpiece since 1986.
A ‘ghost goal’ for Panama and testing conditions in their own game conspired against Bruce Arena’s side, but Warner is positively revelling in the demise of a once dominant force in the region.
“I have not been in better spirits. This is the happiest day of my life,” he told reporters.
“It couldn’t have given me greater joy.”
Warner, a former FIFA vice-president who is currently fighting extradition to the U.S amid a crackdown in corruption in sport, added: “And for me personally, it has reduced the U.S. to a laughing stock.
Last September 27th when the judge ruled against Jack Warner there was a party in the U.S., they were quite happy. Knowing that this has happened I wanted to go out and party as they partied last September when a judge ruled against me. I wanted to party. This was my personal feeling”.
Warner has also warned that failure to reach Russia 2018 could be just the start for the U.S, with their troubles set to continue as they hit a slippery slope.
He added: “They will continue to undermine [the World Cup in] Qatar for 2022, but they will not succeed.
As far as I am concerned this is the beginning of the end for U.S. football. Nobody in Concacaf likes the U.S.
Had they been able to avoid defeat against Trinidad, the U.S would be heading to next summer’s World Cup, as even a draw would have sealed automatic qualification.
As it is, their actions prior to the final round of games left their opponents – who had nothing but pride to play for – determined to claim a prized scalp and dash the American dream.
On the motivation for his players, T&T coach Stern John told USA Today: “I think they were a bit overconfident and a bit disrespectful because they came in and rain fell on the pitch and they were giving each other piggybacks [over the water] and all kind of stuff.
“Rain fell, it is not our fault. They made a big scene out of it and it was international news all over the world. It was all over the media.
“Our families [told us about it]. Most of our guys are on social media so they see it. They see the USA guys getting piggybacked to the field – it is embarrassing.”
- Omni
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