And Bermuda Football Association's decision not to take full advantage of FIFA rules and recall either of the Island's two English-based professionals, Shaun Goater and Kyle Lightbourne, for the upcoming two-leg qualifying tie against Antigua -- a far tougher proposition than first round foes BVI -- may yet prove him right.

News this week that another of the national team's overseas professionals, Harrisburg Heat's David Bascome, has been ruled out of this Sunday's first leg through injury, means that Bermuda will tackle the all-important away leg with just one pro, Meshach Wade -- the least experienced of the four.

As has been debated over the past few weeks, there are strong mitigating circumstances supporting Goater and Lightbourne's absence.

Top scorer not only for his club but in the entire English First Division, Goater is seen as perhaps the most vital member of Manchester City's promotion chasing squad, and it's understandable why neither he nor the club would want to be distracted at such a critical stage of the season.

Lightbourne, on the other hand, gets his first, and perhaps only, chance to play at Wembley this Sunday in the final of Auto Screens Windshield Cup -- seen as the least prestigious of all English cup competitions but nevertheless an avenue through which players get the opportunity to perform on the world's most famous pitch.

But at the end of the day, are those reasons good enough for excluding Bermuda's two star players from the granddaddy of all soccer tournaments, the World Cup? Should Bermuda lose by the odd goal against Antigua over two legs, Lightbourne and Goater might be labelled the culprits. Their presence, most will agree, would have made all the difference.

In this instance, it has to be asked again whether any player is bigger than the game. For essentially that is what this World Cup debate boils down to.

While sympathising with their plight, it has to be said Goater and Lightbourne are putting their own personal ambitions before those of their country -- and, somewhat questionably, with the full blessing of the BFA.

Technical director Clyde Best and coach Calderon seem to appreciate the importance of the matches against Antigua, and there's little doubt if the decision was solely theirs, they would have exercised their option to include the two pros.

But executives of the BFA and, it has to be said, several club members and soccer fans who spoke to The Royal Gazette this week, apparently take a different view.

The club versus country dilemma is never one easily resolved. And in this case, Goater and Lightbourne's circumstances are exceptional.

Yet Bermuda soccer, through the World Cup, is at a crossroads.

A successful campaign could provide an enormous boost to the domestic game.

Every World Cup victory pours more cash into the BFA coffers, helps attract more sponsors to the game, provides an opportunity for those in the national squad to take a step closer to fulfilling their own professional ambitions -- just like Goater and Lightbourne -- and not least instils in every citizen a sense of national pride.

We've seen it so many times before. No competition can lift a country's spirits more than the World Cup.

As Man City boss Joe Royle quipped, Bermuda won't win the World Cup. But neither will City win the Premiership should they indeed get promoted.

Soccer-mad Manchester -- with United on course for another Premier title and City chasing promotion -- is as vibrant a place as anywhere in Europe at the moment.

It would be nice, if through a smattering of World Cup success, a similar atmosphere could pervade Bermuda.

Defeat against Antigua would put paid to any such celebration.

-- ADRIAN ROBSON