The North PacificBoard

Highton coach Eric Wehr spoke with FIDAC.com at the Team Workshop in Trier last week. He updated the watching world on the country's preparations and his team's form leading up to the World Cup. He also gave some useful tips to those planning on coming to Highton in June.

FIDAC.com: With 7 days to go until the start of the World Cup, how ready is Highton to host the competition?
Fans the nation over have prepared to host this tournament for months. All but one of the stadiums were used in the club season this year, and all are in fantastic condition. Highton is also well prepared to host a large number of fans- hotels are all sold out in the nine host cities.

Fans from many countries are already planning their trips to Highton. What advice can you give them: which three attractions simply must they see?
In Highton City, I'd recommend City Palace, home of Crowned Prince Diego II and his family. They are well prepared for the thousands of guests they will receive in the next few weeks. I'd recommend taking the Highton Bahn over to Alexandria for the day if you are not already going there, it is a fantastic cosmopolitan city on the beautiful Phoenix Coast. In Aleman, I'd recommend Triererschloss in Trier, a several-hundred-year-old castle which is still in fantastic condition.

Describe Highton in three words.
Hmm... Cultured, hospitable, and monkeys.

How ready are the Hightonian national team 7 days from the Opening Match?
We have prepared for a long time for this tournament. The Blue Cocos are definitely ready- they have just come off the back of a very competitive club season and we met up last week to begin camp before the tournament. All but two of the players play in Highton, so the squad knows each other very well. We have two rehearsal matches coming up before the tournament, against East Supple Lund and Yuubia, and we want to make sure we have found out best lineup before the tournament starts.

What can you tell us about Highton's opposition in the group stage - Aldion, Yuubia, and Pollonia?
Three very good teams- it will surely be a challenge. Aldion are a good side, we'll have to look out Barry Scott up top since he's been on fire lately. It will be a tough opening match, that's for sure. Yuubia is a nation Highton has close ties with- they are out eastern neighbors- so it's great to come up against a rival in the tournament. Our own John Checker plays for Sky FC in Yuubia so he'll be going up against some of his club teammates. I expect a great second match. Pollonia is a team that I don't know much about, we'll be looking at a lot of film ahead of out final group match, but from what I hear their defense is formidable.

Let's fast-forward 7 days: it's 14:59 in Highton City, just seconds before the Opening Match against Aldion, what is going through your head at this moment?
We've waited for this match, we're prepared for weeks. We have a nation on out shoulders- the Hightonian fans want glory, and quite frankly they deserve it. The average capacity during the league season was a record-breaking 97% so I expect the fans to come out in numbers. As the manager, I'll have to do my job but at the end of the day it's up to the players, and I have faith Alexís and the boys can send us deep into the tournament.