Leo Beenhakker insists his Trinidad and Tobago players will not be star-struck when they come face-to-face with their footballing icons in today's World Cup match against England.

Instead the Dutchman predicted that the big names around the men from such clubs as Gillingham, Port Vale and Falkirk would help them to lift their own game.

Beenhakker said: "It's an extra motivation for these guys to play the stars.

"If one of my guys has the ball he's not thinking of the great Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard or David Beckham, he's just trying to get ahead of them."

The coach also saluted his captain Dwight Yorke, who has made it to the World Cup in the twilight of his career.

Beenhakker, 63, said: "Dwight Yorke has had a great career. He played with the greatest players in the world, with Manchester United and in the Champions League and due to the fact that he had a passport from a small country nation he was not able to play at this level. And now he is here and enjoying it."

Also relishing the action was Dennis Lawrence who was expecting "the battle of his life" in the Frankenstadion.

The 6ft 7ins Wrexham defender faced the prospect of marking Peter Crouch, who was one of the few strikers he would have met on an equal footing.

Lawrence epitomised the confidence which has surged through the World Cup's smallest team since they drew with Sweden last Saturday.

The 31-year-old said: "This is a huge and historic moment for our country. We are going to give 110% each game and see how far we can get. If we get to the final, great."

If he was joking then it did not show in his earnest manner.

He added: "My phone is off. My decision. I want to be as focused as possible. It's going to be difficult. Crouch is a good player. They are all top players, that's why they are tipped to win the World Cup.

"It's going to be a battle but one you've got to be up for."

Most defenders of Lawrence's size would be apprehensive about the pace of Michael Owen but fear is not in the nature of the 'Soca Warriors', who came through 20 matches in qualifying for Germany.

Lawrence said: "You can't be frightened at this stage of the tournament.

"It's what the team need to do, not just the defenders. So long as we can stick together as a team, be prepared mentally and physically, we have a chance. If we try to do it as individuals then we have no chance.

"But the main thing is we have got the belief."