Opinion

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Football crazy or being driven crazy by football?

Thursday 08 July 2010

Not everyone is completely obsessed by football and the prospects of winning the World Cup, writes Robin Pascoe

The traditional summer lull on the news front – known in the Netherlands as komkommertijd (cucumber time) – seems to have come a little early this year.

And if it was not for the sterling performance of the Dutch national football team in the World Cup, the front pages of the papers would be largely empty of news.

After all, we still don't have a government, and our newly-elected MPs went on summer holiday almost as soon as they were elected. The caretaker cabinet meets for the last time on Friday ahead of its summer break.

The football domination also means that some of the spotlight has been removed from the four party leaders trying to put a new government together. They've already made it clear they want to keep a low profile, so thank goodness we have Oranje to help out. Of course they do have a break during a big match.

So where would we be without football? Apparently, some 11.7 million (out of a population of nearly 17 million) watched Tuesday's semi-final.

And if Oranje manages to beat Spain on Sunday, our economy will suddenly grow by 0.5%, economists say. A big international win is good for the national psyche – it unites the nation.

Of course, if you don't like football it is not hard to view the country as having gone more than a little crazy: days off work to watch footie, orange cakes in every bakery, daft wigs and skimpy dresses to advertise your affiliation – there is no end to it.

One energy firm was even forced to withdraw an offer to give new clients a year's free electricity if the Netherlands wins the cup. They are probably rather relieved now it appears to be a distinct possibility.

But there are are some benefits for the non-football fans as well. How about cheap tickets for the last night of the North Sea Jazz festival in Rotterdam (Jules Holland, Ricky Lee Jones and Carmen Souza are among those competing against the footie).

And according to the Telegraaf, hundreds of people plan to come home from holiday early to watch the match. So Transavia is offering people booked to come back on Sunday a free transfer to another flight.

How about offering a similar deal to those of us who wish to escape instead?

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