| 29.06.2008 |
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It's final day and the Dutch are continuing to party as if their team was still in the tournament. Maybe it's just their mentality that while there is football on, there is fun to be had - regardless of whether the Oranje are involved or not. Amsterdam is still decked out in the national colors and people dressed head to toe in tangerine out-number the sun burnt Brits looking for sinful entertainment by about ten to one. Satsumas on bicycles drive by, shouting "Hup! Hup!" as if Marco van Basten's team is still in with a shout of the title. They're not, of course. It's Germany and Spain tonight. And for the Dutch, even the fact that their great rivals the Germans are in the final is no reason to be too upset."We played a good tournament and played the best football," one bystander at a street football competition in the Dam Square told me. "We played beautiful games but met our match in the Russians. There is no shame in that as they were a great team. It is never a shame to lose to a team who plays like us." I asked another if the fact that the Germans were in the final was a reason for jealousy or bad feelings.  "No. The Germans win in a very different way to the Dutch," he said. "We win with sexy football. They fight and scrap for victory. It is not beautiful. I would prefer to see Holland lose and look good than for us to play like the Germans and win."So, will the whole of Holland be cheering on Spain? "We will drink lots of beer and celebrate football," a jolly Oranje giant in a Wesley Sneijder shirt told me outside a crowded pub. "This has been a great tournament with great games. We will celebrate that." "And celebrate even more when the f***ing Germans lose!" shouted another. That clears that up then. |
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