The second last day of the tour and a first visit to the second Test stadium in Tucumán. ‘Atmospheric’ and ‘bear pit’ are words that spring to mind when you first emerge from the underground tunnel that leads from the dressing room to the pitch.
Day 12 – ‘Captain’s Run Part 2’
The day before the second and last game of the tour and the challenge for everyone is to focus on the match while packing for and thinking about heading home.
The daily routine remains the same – monitoring, breakfast, meeting, stretching and then off to the stadium for the last run-out.
The pitch is judged to be in good condition and everyone is wondering what the atmosphere will be like with sheer terracing on three sides of the stadium.
With the Captain’s Run and the last of the media duties done, it is back to the team hotel.
There are rub downs, medical checks, logistics and much more to be done. The Netherlands’ win over Spain in the Football World Cup provides a distraction for some in the afternoon and there is the eternal coffee drinking which has been joined now by more and more of ‘Heads Up’.
It all serves to pass the time until dinner. Then the players can pop up to bagman Willie Bennett’s room to collect their shorts and socks, check their studs and generally while away the time before bed.
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