The business end

We are now on the bus travelling to Malmo, first stop will be the New Stadium, venue for tomorrow's Final, then on to our new hotel.

Behind us are 14 games - unbeaten - and our friends in the beautiful town of Varberg.

When we arrived in Varberg, our base for 18 days, many of us who were in Holland two years ago were only able to hope this experience would equal that.

On the pitch, the team have gone one step further, their showdown with Germany between them and glory.

Off it, the platform the whole camp has been given has enabled everyone to remain relaxed, focused and committed to achieving our goal.

A spa resort on the west coast of Sweden, halfway between our two group venues in Halmstad and Gothenburg, Varberg is a hidden gem.

The staff at our hotel, Varbergs Kurort, did everything they could to make our stay just right, and the surroundings were simply magnificent.

A beach just a few yards from the hotel doors, by day provided a place of rest and by night, the rippling water and the amazing sunsets gave peace and tranquility.

Last night after the sun had dropped below the horizon, four of us, the Doc, Physios Dave and Derek and me, took one final stroll around the bay, along the rocks to a little jetty where we spotted crabs and starfish.

A few of the lads were sitting chatting in the lobby when we got back, as Stuart, Steve Wigley, Martin Thomas and Brian Eastick walked in.

They'd been out along the coastal path the other way, towards town, and looked relaxed and content. Our usual coffees and chit-chat outside in the warm evening followed. While the topic of conversation wasn't always football, it was difficult not to notice people drift off into their thoughts of what could be on Monday.

As Mark Noble said, we're in a final and no one can take that away from us.

And as we head south, with memories of Varberg and the seaside resort etched on our minds, our new base for the next two nights awaits.

I'm sure it won't have the same atmosphere and scenery as the one we have left behind. A city hotel in a commercial part of Malmo, a stone's throw from a shopping centre.

But it'll be perfect for our short stay because we are going there on business.