Is there a more terrifying thought than walking onto the wrong team bus, only to be faced with an angry Diego Simeone?
Trevor Sinclair thinks not, as he recalled his âabsolute nightmareâ after Englandâs World Cup win over Argentina in 2002.
The Three Lions, who were in Group F alongside the South Americans, Nigeria and Sweden, had drawn their first game in South Korea and were looking for their first win of the tournament.
And a David Beckham penalty â won by Michael Owen after he was brought down by Mauricio Pochettino â was enough to secure the victory against Marcelo Bielsaâs Argentina.
Sinclair replaced an injured Owen Hargreaves in the 19th minute of the game and had a dream night on the pitch â but, off it, it wasnât as great.
After being taken for a routine drugs test after the game, the then-West Ham United winger was looking forward to getting on the bus and heading back to the hotel.
However, he explained how a mistake led to him being faced by the likes of Simeone, Pochettino, and Javier Zanetti instead.
âI had an absolute nightmare,â Sinclair explained to talkSPORT.Â
âAfter the game, I got drug tested, so I didnât really see a lot of what went on in the changing rooms but, before that, we were clapping the fans, hugging each other.
âIt was a great achievement â it was one of the biggest wins weâd had in a major tournament for a long time and to be part of that was special.Â
âBut then I went into the changing rooms, got marched off for a drug test and then, afterwards, had to rush because the coach had been waiting for ages. I couldnât go far a wee!Â
âI got on the bus, started walking down and realised I got on the Argentinian bus â it was absolutely horrific.Â
âYou have a few suits at the front, usually people that are involved with the FA, and I didnât recognise them.Â
âI got about a third of the way and thought, âNope, this is not the one!ââÂ
Sinclair, somehow, avoided the wraith of Simeone and co, living to tell the tale.
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