During a pause in a frantic Coca-Cola League One match 18 months ago, 6ft 7in Dennis Lawrence of Wrexham sauntered up to Port Vale's Chris Birchall and a World Cup dream was born.

"I've heard you could play for Trinidad & Tobago," said Lawrence, not the sort of guy one easily says no to.

Birchall nodded, knowing he qualified by virtue of the fact his grandparents had lived there for most of their lives, his mother was born there and had spent the first 18 years of her life on the island.

Birchall said: "Three weeks later I was on the plane and now it is a dream come true."

We should say a new dream, because while Birchall will line up for Trinidad & Tobago against England's David Beckham and Michael Owen on Thursday in Nuremberg his raging ambition was one day to line up beside them.

He explains: "Every lad's dream was to play in the World Cup and I was no different. Every four years I've supported England since 1990 which was the first one I can remember. Last time I was in the pub supporting them.

"I never dreamed I would be playing in the next one against England. The last 18 months have been an unbelievable journey."

A journey which has seen Birchall experience the slog of lower league battles with Vale as well as the euphoria of scoring in Trinidad & Tobago's vital play-off qualifier against Bahrain.

There is no doubt where his loyalties lie, but Birchall is a mature and lucid 22-year-old, one who still lives with his mum and dad in Stafford, and there is no way he is going to risk souring his English heritage.

He said: "Scoring against England would be massive and I would celebrate but I wouldn't go over the top. I've got to show some respect for the country I was born in."

Not that he is short of strong opinions.

He adds: "On their day England are one of the best teams in the world, if not the best, but some people are saying they are one-dimensional at the moment without (Wayne) Rooney.

"They are playing it up to (Peter) Crouch and if you can take Crouch out of the game maybe you've got a chance. We have got a big guy in the team in Dennis Lawrence who could take Crouch out.

"We know any of their players on the day can score 30-yarders. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have been doing it week in and week out for their clubs.

"But if we can play as a team and England don't perform on the day then hopefully we can get something and then go into the Paraguay game looking to go through."

That is the beauty of this Trinidad & Tobago squad, their shining optimism.

Do they stand a chance?

This is how Jack Warner, the head man in T&T football and a vice-president of FIFA, put it to listening press men when he came to England prior to the competition.

"It is easier for you to see God's face than it is to see England beat Trinidad & Tobago."

It caused much merriment at the time but since then Trinidad & Tobago have won their first World Cup point. Why, they even did it with 10 men after Avery John had been sent off in the second half against Sweden.

So, even though they arrive at training on bicycles, are sponsored by eBay, have been promised a cask of rum for victory when England might expect a little more, and have rapidly become everyone's second-favourite team, there is huge belief.

And if Birchall is the only white face, then it will be grinning every bit as wide as the rest. Brothers in arms, you might say.

He added: "We're all full of confidence but laid back. They have accepted me. One thing I was concerned about was how they would take to me but 18 months on some of my best friends are in the Trinidad team."

And what of his parents?

"Definitely they'll be supporting Trinidad & Tobago. It's hard for my dad, he's obviously a big England fan. he has spent his life supporting England and then these last 18 months he's had to change.

"Everyone back home is saying they would like England and Trinidad to go through."

Things rarely work out so perfectly, but then Birchall is living a dream.