LebanonBeirut was nothing like Jarrod had expected. It was cosmopolitan Europe with a heavy slice of Middle Eastern charm. Jarrod was ready for strict security and guns everywhere but was surprised when they were given freedom of the hotel and the surrounding area. This was though a city where the car was king. The French and American influences here were obvious in the street names, and there were cars parked everywhere and anywhere the closer they got to the tourist areas. The training facilities at the American University were a little basic and one of the synthetic fields was exposed to the sea, but coach Jim Grant had been assured that it was good practice ahead of Thursday for the conditions inside the main stadium.
The players warmed to their surroundings. It gave the feel of being
