Glen Moss: Confidence high ahead of Italy clash

20/06/2010
Mercure Hotel,
Nelspruit

The short flight to Nelspruit was rather uneventful, apart from Ben Sigmund hiding Tim Brown's boarding pass.

I'd have to say team morale is at its highest as we prepare to take on the world champions. The result against Slovakia has sent the confidence levels through the roof and it showed during today's training session at Mbombela Stadium. A new stadium built for the World Cup, the seats are designed in a zebra print and it has a near perfect playing surface.

I'm not sure if there are too many seats left behind one goal as Winston Reid practised his Ronaldo-like shots from 25 yards - he must have smashed half a dozen. Better them than my face. Hopefully Winston saved the good ones for tomorrow.

We're not able to experience what's going on back home, the reaction from the public and media after the country's greatest sporting result. So last night after dinner we were shown a fifteen minute clip from news coverage back in New Zealand. We've been told that football is dominating headlines and it was great to see footage of fans celebrating in pubs and clubs all round the country.

Hopefully we can give our amazing fans another reason to celebrate after we take on world champions Italy, in the world's biggest sporting event, the Football World Cup!

MOSSY