I've made it to the ground at Rosario - and received my press accreditation. So it is all systems go for the 2010 women's hockey world cup.
I hooked a local bus to the ground which is probably about 10 miles out of town set among rolling shanty towns and the dusty industrial land. Not Rosario at its bets, it must be said. But, at least with the help of some very basic Spanish, I managed to get the right bus - although I had to walk 2km from the nearest stop!
More dipping into the phrasebook got me through the security. And I found all the staff/security people brilliantly helpful and sympathetic to my sub-par language skills.
The walk to the ground let me see some of the build-up - the roadside hawkers are busy setting up stands selling hats, flags, and basically anything in sky-blue and white. The stadium is a little dead now - two hours before the China-Korea tournament opener - but it will be rocking (all 15000 or so) when the beloved las Leonas take the field tonight at 7.30pm.
England will be taking the field, against the locally-popular Spanish at 5pm local time (9pm UK).