You are tucked away in a hotel in an effort to switch off from the tension outside but everywhere you turn there is a reminder of the match.
You find yourself getting sucked into watching all the up to the minute reports and sometimes it is more relaxed when you play away and can't follow the local television channels or understand the papers.
Of course, this week I have found myself relying on the same reports I usually try to avoid in order to find out what has been happening in the camp.
The unreality of the situation may be something you don't miss when you are not involved but there is plenty that you do miss.
Pitting yourself against the best in the country during training has always been a challenge that I have looked forward to.
Training is always top quality as everyone tries to play their way into the team and it sharpens your game.
On a lighter note you miss out on all the gossip as well. Players are no different to supporters, we love to know the inside story on each other's clubs.
What's your new signing like? What do you do in training at your place? Why did your manager get the sack?
It's always fascinating to hear people's stories first hand, because as in depth as a lot of sports coverage is these days, reporters can't always get the full story - or sometimes can't print it.
As Kevin Keegan used to say to us, the players have the opportunity to write their own headlines tomorrow. The game against Finland has become critical if we are to progress as group winners.
The table makes unpleasant reading at the moment but I still believe that the point we gained on a blustery night in Helsinki could prove invaluable as the competition progresses.
That evening Jari Litmanen stood out as the class act in the Finnish side and I expect him to provide the biggest threat to England again tomorrow.
He has been playing for Liverpool as a second striker, dropping deep to provide a link between midfield and attack.
With Finland he tends to provide that same link as an attacking midfielder, Mikael Forsell, and Jonatan Johanssen playing as the front men.
We can expect Finland to be well organised around the defensive talent of Sami Hyypia and, although they have been at pains to say they are not coming for a 0-0 draw, I'm sure that result would suit them just fine.
I don't expect them to secure that scoreline though.
On a good surface (which we certainly didn't have in Helsinki) and, with a passionate Anfield crowd behind them, I think the lads will be victorious in a tight game.
