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BLACKBURN Rovers are to be well represented on the international stage tonight - with Ewood Park's stars featuring all across the globe.

Most eyes will focus on the Stade de France in Paris, where David Bentley may leave David Beckham waiting for his 100th England cap just a little bit longer.

Or those looking further afield may be intrigued by the coming together of Rovers strike partners Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy, as Paraguay face World Cup 2010 hosts South Africa in Pretoria.

But while Bentley, McCarthy and Santa Cruz grab the attention in their respective friendly bouts, there is one Rovers ace for who today marks a critical date in his country's own World Cup hopes.

Over 4,000 miles away, on an island less than half the size of Anglesey, striker Jason Roberts will be representing his beloved Grenada for their single-leg first round battle against US Virgin Islands at the National Stadium in St. George's.

Although the fixture may seem trivial to most football afficiniados, it is arguably the biggest game in four years for the amusingly-nicknamed Spice Boyz.

advertisement Not since their last World Cup qualifying tie, against the United States in June 2004, has Grenada geared up for a match of huge significance.

Back then, the small Caribbean nation, of just less than 110,000 residents, performed heroically to restrict the USA to a 6-2 second round aggregate scoreline.

In the home leg, Roberts hit the scoresheet in a narrow 3-2 defeat.

But the 30-year-old is eager to take his country one step further this time around, as Grenada look to reach, at the very least, CONCACAF's 12-team semi-final group stages.

"We are looking good at the moment," said Roberts.

"People will be surprised by Grenada's football."

"Last time, we lost out over two legs to the USA. Now, though, we are hoping to get things together and make a decent go of it. We have some good talent and we'll be hoping to make the most of it.

"The style of play is a little bit different on the islands than it is back in the Premiership, but that's part of the challenge and part of the fun.

"I need to adjust and bring my strengths into the game to help Grenada make a mark."

On the US Virgin Islands, Roberts added: "To be honest, I don't know too much about them, but we just need to focus on this game.

"If we don't, and if we don't keep respect for them, we could find ourselves in big trouble.

"After all, this is a one-off game with big consequences. If we win, we go on. If we lose, we go home."

Whatever happens, London-born Roberts is always proud to wear the Grenada jersey.

He has never been afraid to announce his love affair with the country, the birthplace of his father.

He made his international debut aged 19 alongside his uncle Otis Roberts, which he regards the proudest moment of his career.

It may seem pie in the sky that a nation as small as Grenada could actually qualify for the 2010 World Cup, lacking the resources and depth of quality of players enjoyed by North American giants USA and Mexico.

Aside from Roberts and Shalrie Joseph, a bustling defensive midfielder at MLS outfit New England Revolution, Grenada are made up of local amateur footballers and they rarely play competitive matches outside of official qualifiers.

But the Caribbean has seen an upturn in fortunes over the last decade, with Trinidad and Tobago qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and Jamaica progressing against the odds to France 98.

Grenada should at least breeze past US Virgin Islands, who are joint 202th in the FIFA world rankings. In effect, they are among the worst footballing nations.

The Virgin Islanders have played only three times in the last four years, losing in 2004 to Jamaica (11-0) and to the Dominican Republic (6-1 and 6-0) last year.

If they progress, Grenada's next, more stern test will come in the shape of a two-legged second round affair against Costa Rica, who have qualified for the last two World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Santa Cruz will look to get the better of Rovers team-mate McCarthy as the two strikers collide in Pretoria.

But it may be another Blackburn colleague - Aaron Mokoena - that he gets closest to on the pitch.

Mokoena could end up marking Santa Cruz in Atterideville, and the Axe' is looking forward to the battle.

"He is a good striker," said Mokoena. "Yet I believe I know how to play against him.

"I played against him at the World Cup in 2002 as well."

Mokoena is one of two Bafana survivors from that 2-2 draw in Korea, the other being McCarthy.

And Mokoena expressed pleasure at having the country's second leading goalscorer back in the fray after he missed the African Nations Cup in Ghana.

"It's always great to have Benni back in the team," said Mokoena.

Santa Cruz is confident of returning to South Africa in two years' time as Paraguay bid for their fourth successive World Cup finals appearance.

After four rounds, they currently lead the 10-team South American World Cup qualifying group, with Argentina and Brazil in second and third respectively.

Qualifying is set to run until October 2009, but Santa Cruz, who appeared in the 2002 and 2006 finals, believes Paraguay can last the pace and stay at the top of the tree.

"Over the past few years, we've become a lot stronger," said the 26-year-old. "Like at Blackburn, we're not content with just doing well at home - we want to do well away from home too - and I think other countries are realising that.

"I hope that we do stay above Brazil and Argentina and everyone else - and I think we can."

Elsewhere on the international front, Andre Ooijer's Netherlands take on Austria in Vienna, whilst Morten Gamst Pedersen's Norway side face European minnows Montenegro in Podgorica.

11:52am Wednesday 26th March 2008

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