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Nǐ hǎo from Shanghai this week! This last week has been busy in terms shopping and casino visits and we even managed to fit in a couple of games of football too!
The first game we played against a Hong Kong Men’s team and beat them 2-0 which was a good result played in sweltering heat (I’m like a broken record…). It may surprise a few people that we play against men’s teams but its only in England where womens football is ever so slightly looked down upon. Everywhere else it is a universal sport played by all and without prejudice particularly USA where the women are more successful then the men. It’s a very refreshing attitude and one we are not used to from the general UK population that don’t follow our sport. Lots of National Womens teams play regularly against Men’s teams, it improves sharpness and gets the team playing quickly both of which will benefit us in the games in the World Cup. We also played against the Macau National Men’s team and drew 2 2 which is a fantastic result for us, it was only this summer when they lost 4 0 to Man Utd on the latter’s pre season tour. They are also competing in a World Cup qualifying campaign this Autumn too. Everyone was extremely pleased with this result as it was played at 3pm so we got the full blast of the sun and humidity. I managed to get a good run around in both which is excellent for me. I feel like I am prepared physically and mentally for the tournament it has been a long buildup but we are peaking at the right time as a squad. After games like these two we get to watch video clips of ourselves during the game to analyse – an fantastic tool for development of our game in many ways. Now the important part – casino time! We visited the biggest casino in the world ‘The Venetian’ in Macau complete with a pseudo lakes! We stayed there for 2 and a half hours and I didn’t leave the Roulette table. Together with Rachel Yankey we managed to break even losing and winning lots of little plastic things.. I didn’t even have a chance to visit the massive shopping mall which is so unlike me! Yesterday we travelled to Shanghai, it was sad leaving Macau it was a fantastic place to acclimitise and it really feels now like this is the business end of the trip – bring it on I say! We travelled in our England team suits and we all looked lovely (find me on Facebook to look at the photo evidence). There was press everywhere at Shanghai airport and a few Chinese journalists took a real interest in me and my hairstyle it was hilarious – I might set a trend in the city ha! From the airport to the hotel we had a police escort of about 6 cars which travelled along the route in front, behind and ahead blocking roads and letting us pass easy. Probably the best way to travel through the car laden streets of Shanghai. The worst thing about the city so far is the smog and I mean smog, its disgusting and difficult to breathe properly without coughing. It even stinks in the hotel – crazy! Speaking of the hotel it is absolutely gorgeous we are really spoilt. I am on the 21st floor and the lift goes down the outside of the building which is incredibly scary. Our games begin on Tuesday 11th September at 1pm on BBC2 as are all the England games. My teammate, Lucy Ward, is flying out this weekend and is working for the BBC as co-commentator to Guy Mowbray which is exciting for her. The BBC are giving the tournament the full ‘Match of the Day’ works which is brilliant for us and all Womens' Football fans in the UK. Make sure you watch and support the girls and listen to Lucy she’s one of your own! Catch up with you all soon, Sue |
