Members of the Trinidad and Tobago team pose ahead of the Group B World Cup match between Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, 20 June 2006. Pictured are (top row-L to R) forward Dwight Yorke, forward Cornell Glen, defender Brent Sancho, goalkeeper Kelvin Jack, defender Avery John, defender Dennis Lawrence and (bottom row-L to R) midfielder Aurtis Whitley, midfielder Carlos Edwards, midfielder Christopher Birchall, midfielder Densill Theobald and forward Stern John. AFP PHOTO / ARIS MESSINIS

But after the Soca Warriors' 2-0 Group B defeat to Paraguay and subsequent exit on Tuesday some of his players are already looking towards South Africa's hosting of the World Cup in 2010.

Luton Town midfielder Carlos Edwards is reportedly attracting interest from some of the English Premiership's 'smaller' clubs.

But after ending his first World Cup experience early it was his international future that was foremost in his mind.

"I just hope that we can build on this campaign for the future. I think that we can compete with the best," he said.

"We've proved a lot of people wrong who thought we came here just to make up the numbers. Our tournament is finished, but we're going home with our heads held high."

Trinidad and Tobago made history at the World Cup by becoming the smallest nation (1.1 million population) to qualify.

However the motley crew of mostly lower league players coached by wily Dutch veteran Leo Beenhakker showed great promise by holding Sweden 0-0 and only losing 2-0 to England in the last 10 minutes.

Despite their offensive domination of Paraguay in a pulsating second half on Tuesday, T and T go home having failed to score a goal or win a game.

Beenhakker said that before the tournament they had all been worrying about the faster pace of their opponents and "whether England and Sweden were going to beat us four or five-nil."

And Edwards admitted there was still work to do if they are to build on their relative success of making it to Germany.

"Obviously Sweden and England have good quality up front and they can punish anyone. We also have a bit of inexperience but I think the pace factor is down to a lot of the guys who play locally back in Trinidad. I think they're not accustomed with the pace.

"But we have to go home thinking positive and take a lot of this experience and use it for the future."

Own goal victim Brent Sancho, who accidentally headed into his own net in the 25th minute, looked emotional after the match but the defender was philosophical in his appraisal of the incident.

"By the time I put my head up it was already up off my head and going into the back of the net," he said.

"It was unfortunate. You know, I didn't intentionally try to header it in. It just kind of glanced off my head. These things happen probably 50 million times in football."

Sancho also admitted they would have to work on certain game features.

"There's one or two components that a little nation like us are lacking. But at the end of the day we showed that we can compete with the big teams, with the 0-0 against Sweden and against England we did well too.

"I think we just kind of ran out of steam at the last game.

"But we came here and we did things that people just didn't expect us to do. We turned heads, and we're happy with that."

Edwards meanwhile already has his sights on the World Cup in four years time.

"This experience will live with me forever, but I just hope that it's not just one World Cup for me. I hope I will be in South Africa in 2010," he said.

As for Sancho, football is the last thing on his mind.

"We will build on this for the future, but all I want to do is get back to the beach in Tobago.

"Right now my mind is off football. I need a break."