09 August 2014
Indonesia and Australia both possess different characteristics that set each other apart but they also have one thing in common: their love for the Bianconeri.
It was a sight to behold as the gates opened for this afternoon’s open training session at the Jubilee Oval in Sydney, where over 8,000 supporters flooded into the complex equipped with Juventus shirts, flags and scarves.
Trying to keep up with the intensity of the Jakarta supporters, the 16,000 Australian eyes certainly raised the roof throughout the session. Before the players made their way on to the pitch, a few lucky fans chanced their arms at the crossbar challenge, trying to hit the bar from the penalty area in order to win an official Juventus jersey.
The players took to the field at 18.00, this time dedicating the afternoon session to tactics after spending the morning focusing on fitness. The warm-up gave way to a practice match without goalkeepers on a playing surface set out with four mini-goals, positioned by Massimiliano Allegri’s staff on all corners of the pitch.
Juventus’ session proceeded with another ‘themed’ practice match, this time with a full quota of goalkeepers. Here, the aim of the game was to pick out the attackers, who were limited to an area cordoned off by cones, with long-range passing.
Fabio Paratici and club president Andrea Agnelli were both present at the open training session. As they watched on, the Scudetto trophy was paraded to an excited Australian crowd with the action on the pitch reverting back to a “traditional” practice match won 4-2 by the orange bibs.
Instead of heading straight to the showers as the session ended, the Bianconeri hung back to sign a multitude of autographs and pose for a few pictures, capping off a memorable night for the ardent Australian faithful.
