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MONDAY, JULY 23rd

TRAINING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN HOLLAND...

YPT continued their Dutch soccer experience this morning when they returned to Roda's training complex for a training session with the first team's assistant coach Rene Trost. After being shown to their team room YPT changed and took to the field where Rene gave the players a session focusing on decision making in preparation for their match against
Bayern Munich, in Munich, which will be in 2 days.

Rene began the session with a passing and receiving exercise in a large area with half the players positioned around the outside of the area, each with a ball, and the rest inside the area without a ball. The players inside the area would work hard for 2-3 minutes at a time checking to players on the outside and calling for the ball. After a good turn on the run the
ball would be returned to another player on the outside. Rene first had the players receive the ball to feet, and then into space.

From there, Rene had the players participate in a possession exercise where he would stop the exercise and talk to players about decisions made and how it might be done better. Through Rene, the YPT players were given insight as to how professional players are taught to think under significant pressure. He explained to the players that Bayern Munich
will put much pressure on them, especially when they move the ball from the back into the midfield and that they must be able to make quick, correct decisions in order to be competitive with the Germans.

To finish the session, Rene had YPT play 7v7+1 ( a neutral player) in an area that extended from the endline to midfield but only was wide as the 18. YPT goalkeeper, Austin Holbrook (DE- Concord Clash) stayed in a full size goal and 2 small goals were placed at midfield. One team started out attacking the large goal, the other team the 2 small goals. The team that scored would keep possession and immediately attack the opposite goal, which gave Austin work against both teams.

Roda's training complex, where both the first, 2nd, and youth teams train, is held at the clubs old stadium. After showering and changing, the team was invited for lunch in the business lounge of the stadium where Rene presented each of the players with a limited edition shirt commemorating Roda's 1st team playing 1000 games in the Dutch first division.

After lunch, and good-byes to Rene, YPT started on their long return journey south to Munich for the second leg of the 2004 European Tour.

TUESDAY, JULY 24th

CASTLE NEUSCHWANSTEIN...

The YPT team took a day off from the ball to do some sightseeing. About 2 hours from Munich, and into the glorious Alps, sits one of the world's most famous castles. The magnificent Neuschwanstein castle, built by King Ludwig, between 1869 and 1886 was the inspiration behind Walt Disney's Enchanted Castle. Seeing and touring the castle in person was quite amazing. Even more amazing to the players was the nearby Mary's Bridge built at the same time as the castle that spans a deep Alpine gorge and sits high above a spectacular 45m waterfall.

Back in Munich a team meeting was help to talk about the most anticipated event of this years tour - tomorrows match against FC Bayern.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25th

YPT vs FC BAYERN MUNICH

YPT arrived at FC Bayern's Saebener Strasse training complex a little more than an hour and a half before for their match. Before heading into the team room to change, YPT walked the pitch as is a common tradition in Europe when a team visits
a club for the first time. The butterflies got a little bigger as the team was escorted into the bright white and red building where Bayern's team rooms are located. Along the walls are large photographs of some of the great players that have played at this club: Lothar Mattheus, Franz Beckenbauer, Karl Hienz-Rumminegge, Oliver Kahn. How could a player not be motivated when realizing these icons walked the same halls. When the team was escorted to their team room they learned that FC Bayern was already in the next team room, dressed and ready to go, mentally preparing for the game with the Americans.

As the teams took to the field for the warm-up, eyeing each other up, there were equal amounts or excitement and anxiety in the air from not knowing what the next 70 minutes would hold.

Both teams shook hands before the start and the Bayern players presented each of the YPT players with a gift from the club. When the whistle blew it was all business but nerves were the reason for YPT's less than desirable start to the match.Too many times in the opening 15 minutes YPT gave the ball away, giving the Germans an advantage, as if they needed one. YPT gave up the first goal when a ball played back poorly to goalkeeper Austin Holbrook dropped into the net. 0-1 Bayern. Oddly enough, the own goal had somewhat of a settling effect on YPT as the players seemed to forget where they were playing and decided to focus on just playing. The half ended 0-1.

As with each friendly so far in this tour, YPT was a more focused team in the second half. They were not discouraged by being a goal down, but inspired by knowing they were still very much in this game. The Bayern players did not make YPT's job easy, repeatedly giving the American's lessons on how to win the ball, cleanly but aggressively, and thus disrupting the possession game that had become this team's strength. The relentless YPT players just kept playing and in the 40th minute they were rewarded when Mark Louro broke through the German defenses and confidently shot the ball past the Bayern keeper. It was the break they had worked for. All to play for now.

The strong mental strength and discipline of German players is no secret and it was clear today that they instill these qualities in the youth professionals at FC Bayern at an early age. The home team were determined not to be defeated by the American on their home field. The half battled on with both teams earning chances but neither able to convert.

With just under 10 minutes to go, with the score at 1-1, YPT head coach John Fisher made a tactical change, hoping Bayern wouldn't pick up on it. YPT started the international friendly playing a 3-5-2 but switched to a 3-4-3, taking out a defensive midfielder and adding a 3rd forward. Before the Germans had a chance to adjust, Dominic Skrajewski (PA-Spirit United) overlapped from the left midfield position, beat his defender and headed for goal. Once inside the box, he was immediately pressured but drove the ball across the mouth of the goal to a waiting Eddie Adams (PA-YMS Xplosion), the added forward, who slotted the ball under the FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper. 2-1 YPT.

Win or lose, the experience of playing Bayern Munich at Bayern Munich will something the players will never forget. Being able to say they won is something most people won't quite believe.

Following, probably, most of the players greatest soccer achievement to date, the team had lunch in FC Bayern's restaurant, which is located within the training complex. The restaurant is open to the public, but YPT were seated in a section reserved for players of the club. The wall above the tables were covered with framed, autographed pictures of the clubs greatest players. Bayern's wall of fame is a tribute to the rich history and great players of the club.

When lunch was over the team went into the FC Bayern store and bought everything in it. OK....almost everything.

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