GREAT Britain boss Alun Rossiter talks national pride, team selection and positivity on the eve of the World Cup for MARK PLUMMER'S latest "˜Friday Feature'.
WHERE would you expect to find an international sporting manager 48 hours before a massive World Cup showdown?
Probably not behind the wheel of a lorry leaving Southampton docks, but that is exactly what Great Britain speedway chief Alun Rossiter was doing on Thursday lunchtime when conducting this interview.
There are jobs to done and bills to be paid before he can even think about the honour of leading his nation into battle for the first time.
That will come tomorrow (Saturday) when his chosen men - world champion Tai Woffinden, Chris Harris, Simon Stead and Danny King - attempt to claim Event One glory at the Norfolk Arena, King's Lynn.
And Rossiter, also the boss of Elite League side Swindon, can hardly wait to sample the white-hot World Cup atmosphere at one of the finest tracks in the land.
"It will be one of the most special nights of my life," said Rossiter.
"I've been lucky to do some fantastic things in speedway and family-wise, but how many people can say they have led their country into a World Cup.
"There surely can't be any better feeling and I can't wait to find out. It is also a great occasion for my family as they are the ones stuck on the emotional rollercoaster with me.
"They share the good times but they also bear the brunt of your mood when things are not going well."
Rossiter is confident he has got his team selection spot-on despite having to soak up plenty of criticism since settling on his preferred quartet.
And he has answered back at those suggesting he should have named a more youthful side to take on Australia, America and Italy in deepest Norfolk.
Rossiter added: "We've got the best rider in the world leading our team. Hopefully Tai's batteries will be recharged after taking a few days off and he will at his best.
"'Bomber' is another rider who pretty much picks himself and once he pulls on GB kevlars he turns into a lion.
"My gut feeling had been to go with Simon for some time. He was already in good form when I called him to tell him he was in the team and if anything, he has been even better since.
"He's had a great year in both leagues and his record at King's Lynn is also very good.
"The same applies to Danny although I must admit his spot was the one I agonised over the most.
"In all truth Craig Cook was probably in pole position at one point, but I feel Danny is the man to go with. Craig even admitted he wouldn't select himself in his programme piece at the British Grand Prix.
"He also ended up smashing his phone which meant I couldn't get hold of him just before the deadline for selecting my squad so I ended up going with Richie at reserve.
"He's another rider who knows Lynn well after riding there last year and he wants to be a part of what we're trying to achieve.
"I feel I've got the right riders. It is entirely my selection with no outside influences.
"I've come in for a fair bit of criticism for not blooding youngsters, but the World Cup is not the place to do that.
"We need to arrange Test matches to look at riders coming through. The World Cup is not a training ground and I'm ultimately judged on success on the track."
And for Rossiter that means emerging victorious in East Anglia and earning a direct ticket to the World Cup final in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Saturday week.
"I don't want to put the boys under any unnecessary pressure," continued Rossiter. "But as far as I'm concerned it is not unrealistic to think we can win on Saturday.
"We should be full of confidence on home soil. We certainly won't be thinking about finishing second or third because that creates the wrong mindset.
"I've never experienced the atmosphere at King's Lynn on World Cup night in person before and I can't wait to sample it.
"It always looks terrific on TV and I feel sure the backing of a partisan crowd can give us an extra edge.
"I just want it to be a successful and positive night for British Speedway because the amount of negativity in this sport drives me mad.
"I want everyone from the supporters to the riders to have a positive attitude. You only have to look at what the Americans achieved last year to see what that can do.
"I'm not suggesting we all go around high-fiving each other all the time, but there is no doubt a bit of positivity and a good atmosphere can help.
"We've got the hunger and we've got the passion. We are ready so bring it on!"
