Spirits are high

Well, we’re finally underway here and it was an unfortunate outcome to England’s first game in Ismailia on Saturday evening.

Facing Uruguay in our opener was always going to be tough, but I have to say the team more than acquitted themselves and, in the end, were desperately unfortunate not to come out of the game with a result.

The South Americans are ranked as the fourth best in FIFA U20 World Cup history and have had a squad together in preparation for this competition for the last year, but the Young Lions more than matched them until the killer goal came in the last ten minutes.

It was a fine strike too, worthy of winning any game, and heading back to the hotel on the coach afterwards, everyone was still in good spirits which sums up the mood and togetherness within this group of players and staff. With the knowledge that if they can perform like that in the remaining two group games with Ghana and Uzbekistan, then there is a fair chance of progressing to the last 16. That’s still a long way off though and the focus is now firmly on Tuesday’s game with the Ghanaians.

The encouraging thing with Saturday’s performance was how comfortable all of the players were in possession, with central defenders Martin Kelly and Ben Mee both constantly looking for passes into the midfield and to the flanks and the central midfield trio of Josh Walker, Matthew James and Adam Clayton rarely surrendering the ball.

It was even commented upon in the post match press conference, with one reporter suggesting to Brian Eastick that there had been a noticeable difference in England’s approach to the game from that of previous years and asking where the change in culture had perhaps come from.

Today saw the squad split in two for training, with those who didn’t start Saturday’s game having a full session late in the morning for which they were joined by Under-21s Head Coach Stuart Pearce, who arrived in the camp on Saturday afternoon along with Ray Clemence.

So it was a nice bonus for both Sam Baldock and Jordan Parkes, who were on the training pitch nice and early, to have the opportunity to enjoy a little kickaround with one of England’s top former internationals before it all got underway.

After that session, they joined up with those who started the game with Ghana and took part in a spot of yoga before undergoing a ‘pool recovery’ prior to lunch.

Media interest has also heightened since the start of the competition, with the Eurosport cameras here after lunch to film an extended interview with boss Brian Eastick and then an interesting feature with defender Nana Ofori-Twumasi, for who the game takes on extra significance given that he moved to England as a child after being born in Ghana.

That will be shown on Eurosport on Monday evening (10.30pm BST) and then again before the game on Tuesday (kick-off 8.30pm BST), so keep an eye out for it and catch it if you can.

The BBC are also due at the hotel a little later, along with two Ghanaian reporters, to speak with Brian Eastick, which is to be broadcast on the World Service and then sent back to England, so that may be another one worth looking out for.

With journalists and reporters from all over the world attending, regardless of whether their nation are involved or not, it seems a shame that there isn’t more of a media presence out here from back home. After all, this competition is billed as FIFA’s second biggest after the main World Cup and there has been much interest in the England squad from foreign media since our arrival.

I also have to say that the Egyptians have been a particularly welcoming bunch since our arrival here almost a week ago, with staff around the hotel not allowing anyone to lift a finger whilst those on duty at the Ismailia Stadium last night were high in number and keen to help any visitors in whatever way they could.

Of course, the hospitality isn’t going to extend onto the pitch, and with Tuesday now fast approaching, the squad’s focus is firmly fixed on Ghana and getting that first win. Let's hope so!