IT was a bit like Brazil.
There are bars and food from Bem Brasil of course. It's all very tidy and very good-looking. It'll work a treat for the World Cup.
As we arrived at the old Granada Studios in central Manchester to sample ITV's Fever Pitch, finishing touches were still being applied to the site even though there were only hours remaining before Brazil kicked off against Croatia.
It was going to be finished in time we were assurred.
Confidential was there as part of a media five-a-side tournament. Other teams included MUTV, CityTV, the MEN, the Oldham Chronicle and The Sun.
Coached excellently by the editor Jonathan 'Hodgson' Schofield, Confidential scored seven goals, didn't concede and won the tournament. VICTORY!
Champions: Oliver, Mickey, Miss Kick, Matt (main big screen in the background)
As the pictures below show, there's a mini-stadium here, one big screen, another screen, and 450 tonnes of sand. Plus there are bars and food from Bem Brasil - of course.
It's all very tidy and very good-looking. It'll work a treat for the World Cup.
The sand pitch will be used during the day for beach soccer and in the evening will be occupied by fans to watch the game. The capacity is 3,000 for match nights.
Several games have already been booked out although there are a proportion of walk-up tickets still available. Book here.
Here's a video clip of Confidential writer David Blake demonstrating how not to kick a ball in sand. We call it his 'Shocking Miss Kick'. He would however like to point out this in Spanish, the language of the World Champions: David Blake metió un gol maravillosa en el final.
Here's a video clip of Oliver Schofield, a ringer, showing how it should be done on the re-take after Blake's mistake.
Brazil vs Croatia
Brazil vs Croatia
Brazil vs Croatia
Brazil vs Croatia
Brazil vs Croatia
