Archive for the ‘ Football ’ Category

The day after…

About a month ago, I wrote a little something about this year’s FIFA World Cup. I had predicted a final between Spain and Brazil. This is one of the very few occasions where I can happily say, I was wrong! I was delighted that our Dutch football team managed to make it all the way to the final game of the World Cup. I hoped feverishly that we would win this game as well and finally put the ghosts of the past to rest. Unfortunately, we all know how it ended. We lost our third World Cup final in the last minutes of the game yesterday. Admittedly, Spain is the deserved winner as they displayed the better football.

Before this tournament started, nobody had dared to dream of reaching the final game. Now, a day after losing, we can’t even be happy with finishing second. Bitter disappointment followed a few pretty exciting weeks. Sadly, a potential new football trauma has arrived to haunt our collective memories. I didn’t plan on writing this entry about our loss. I didn’t want to; what happened in South Africa, stays in South Africa! However, I couldn’t ignore the downcast atmosphere in the office. It’s quiet. So, so quiet. Everyone is getting on with their work in silence. It’s as if an unspoken agreement has filled the office; please don’t mention the football game!

We’re disappointed. We struggle to accept a second place. We came to win and we almost did! Nonetheless, I think our football team are heroes! They did well to get this far and for about a month, they succeeded in uniting roughly 15 million people. Everyone seemed to put aside their differences in opinions and supported our boys in South Africa. For about a month we were one, a collective, and ever so slowly we started to believe in a fairy tale ending.

I’m sure our players will be received in a deafening roar of cheers and applause during their homage in Amsterdam tomorrow. And rightly so. Being the number two in the world is quite an achievement, even though admitting defeat leaves a bitter taste.

What a damn shame we didn’t quite make it!

World Cup fever

Are you infected by it yet? I am!

World Cup fever!

I’ve said this before: I’m not a particular fan of football. I don’t really have a favourite team, I don’t follow the competitions or European cup tournaments. However, for some weird reason I do like playing Fifa 10 on my XBox 360 and I always get a little hyped up about the really big tournaments such as the Euro and World Cups. Perhaps it’s something to do with national pride and hoping that this time they really will make it to the final (unlikely).

"Aaaanvalluuuuh!"

Tomorrow is the kick-off of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. I’m guessing we will end up with a final between Brazil and Spain. If that happens, I hope Spain will win the Cup! Despite this, I’ll cheer for our Dutch national team and hope they’ll truly make it this year!

“Hup Holland Hup! Laat de leeuw niet in z’n hempie staan!”