Warriors head for Dortmund

The Warriors had their last workout session at the Rotenburg training stadium under coach Leo Beenhakker yesterday morning and Beenhakker made them ride bicycles from their hotel to the grounds, a short five-minute ride which should have warmed them up in more ways than one. The temperature is a cool 18 degrees but the sun is shinning brightly. A group of German supporters was on hand to watch the session even though it was closed, with the press only being allowed 15 minutes, and from a distance, to see the team in training. Also watching the team were some Swedish media people.

Last stopper for the team, Marvin Andrews was left to train by himself in an effort to bring him back to full fitness before our first match tomorrow.

Here in Dortmund fans have been pouring in from all over the world to the city centre which is opposite the main train station. Flag-bearing supporters from Japan to Ghana to England to Sweden and from Brazil, all young supporters are gathering for tomorrow’s big match.

People are moving about with beer bottles in hand, liming in the parks and at street corners, each one trying to outshine the other as they proudly wear anything and everything that identifies their country or their favourite team. Flags, t-shirts, hats, banners in all shapes and sizes are everywhere. Some optimistic souls are still trying to get tickets an almost impossible task, I can tell you.