DutchNews.nl - The Netherlands gears up for World Cup Sunday

The Netherlands gears up for World Cup Sunday

Friday 09 July 2010

As the Netherlands gears up for Sunday's World Cup final between Oranje and Spain, plans are already under way to welcome back the Dutch team - with or without the cup.

According to the Telegraaf, some 15 private jets are heading from the Netherlands to South Africa carrying millionaires who have paid up to €20,000 each to attend the final.

Two Pathé cinemas in Rotterdam and Amsterdam are to show the match in 3D - with an English-language commentary.

And at the monkey refuge AAP in Almere, eleven newly arrived white-eared marmosets are to be named after the eleven players of the winning team, Nos tv reports.

Sponsors

Sunday's match will also be a battle of the sponsors, the Volkskrant points out. The Dutch football shirts are sponsored by Nike, the Spanish by Adidas. Players are free to pick their own boot sponsor.

And, the Telegraaf says, the skimpy orange dresses produced as a marketing stunt for beer brand Bavaria, are now changing hands for up to €60 each. The dresses were given away free with cans of beer.

Up to 80,000 people are expected to follow the game on big screens on Amsterdam's Museumplein and at least 70 foreign camera crews will be in town to follow the crowds.

Victory

If the Netherlands wins, on Tuesday the players will be given a triumphant return with a boat trip through the Amsterdam canals where up to one million people are expected to turn out to welcome them home.

'The phones have not stopped ringing with people trying to book a boat to follow the procession,' said Alec Behrens of rental agency Amsterdam Boats.

The capital has already announced public transport will be free that day, to cope with the flood of visitors. But trams and buses will not run in the city centre because of the forecast crowds.

And Dutch Rail (NS) has banned drinking on all trains and stations to reduce the risk of alcohol-related violence.

If Oranje does not win, the boat trip will not go ahead but the team will still be welcomed back by a rally on Museumplein.

TV rights

Meanwhile, commercial tv station SBS6 has snapped up the exclusive rights to follow the Dutch team during the celebrations, much to the fury of public broadcaster Nos. SBS is the only broadcaster to be allowed backstage and on board the boat to interview players.

'The celebrations are of national importance, not an event which can be given away as an exclusive,' said Nos director Jan de Jong.

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Readers' comments

Congratulations from Switzerland! Do your best on sunday!

By koller | July 9, 2010 2:55 PM

The biggest mistake that the german national team made, was to retreat, wait, defend and counterattack.
This foot-ball strategy could be called a kind of speculative game, if not, an outright timid approach for playing.
When a team starts attacking from the beginning and scores early in the game, this puts pressure on its opponent, which is then more likely to commit mistakes that can be taken advantage of.
Also, a team shouldn't retreat, defend and counterattack once it has scored one, two or even three goals. It ought to keep attacking to overwhelm the rivals.
More importantly: By consistently attacking, a team "imposes its style" of game, which in turn, confuses the adversary, who cannot read the opponent's maneuvers and tactics.
Just like the say: " The best defense is to attack."
Germany was playing like this during the World-Cup eleiminations and doing well.....until the game against Spain.
They stopped attacking.
What happened ? Did they chickened out because they lost the Euro-Cup against Spain in 2008 and its game relied on defense and counterattack alone ?
This is hardly the image and character of true teutons.
Nevertheless, we have also the teutonic people of the Netherlands, whom I see with
more courage and pluck than his cousins.
If the Netherlands play by the rules mentioned above, they'll be the victorious team.
I give you the signal flare to go ahead and attack that publicity inflated team (Spain) without mercy, and show the world that good strategy, skillful tactics and true grit is what counts on defeating the adversary.
The force is with you.

By Jose Cabrera | July 9, 2010 3:16 PM

I hope Oranje wins because there is just so much hype in the cities and I feel almost sorry to see them disappoint their fans!

By Linlita | July 9, 2010 3:55 PM

Hup Holland! We are rooting for a Nederlands victory 2 to 1 over the Spanish in Roseville California.....2 great teams that will attack, attack, attack. The most exciting World Cup ever!!!!! Jaap in Amstelvenn is our adopted Dutch Brother hello!!!!

By ajaxoid | July 10, 2010 12:07 AM

I have been in Netherlands 5 times (the 6th will be in August). I have always had warm reception for all the Dutch people and that is why Holland is my "second country". I wish GOOD LUCK for the Orange squad next Sunday. Go Holland! I'll be there in August to celebrate with all of you, drinking some beer, of course!!

By JORGE CARDOSO, from Brazil | July 10, 2010 2:10 AM

I was so impressed by the Dutch Total Soccer when I first liked and watched soccer back in 1974. Sinc then I become a big Dutch fan. All the best and I definitely cheer for you on Sunday

By Kenny | July 10, 2010 2:43 AM

Hello to u all .i donot leave in netherlands but I am the fan of netherlands and i think they will win the game via spain.
Recently i take part in a photo competition about football fans in world cup. And i placed a picture of a fan of netherlands there.
Now i need votes ,i mean ur help to vote 4 me in that site! But first u should do a simple registeration in that site called fizwoz to be able to vote.
The site is >> www.fizwoz.com
and my picture link to vote is >> www.fizwoz.com/?do=sdetpub&id=761
it is very nice of u all to vote 4 me.
I need at least 200 votes and the last time to vote is up to end of the game of netherlands via spain.please say that to whoever u know.
Thank u

By par | July 10, 2010 7:57 AM

I hope Holland will lose because they play an ugly game (fouls after fouls) and when they mark they are sooo full of themselves. Vamos Espana!!!!

By Andrew | July 10, 2010 9:57 PM

I write you from Barcelona (Catalonia). I only hope that Holland defeats Spain tomorrow! I would be for us catalans really sad to have to see spanish flags for a couple of days. My best wishes for the dutch team!

By Jordi Giné | July 10, 2010 10:46 PM

Paul chose Spain as winner. I think Spain will be the new World Champion. They play beautifully. I wish my team (France) had played just 30% as good as the Spanish team.

Go RED!!!! I will be with you tomorrow

By Andre Dubois | July 10, 2010 11:51 PM

Have the "Victory" on 14 July, canal parade and all. Ja!

By FuutBaal | July 11, 2010 1:49 AM

I have been in the Netherlands since 2007 and from then I am big fan of Dutch football. All the very best for Dutch team and their dedicated supporter. Hup
hap ORANGE!!!
Suman (Rotterdam). Now in India.

By Suman | July 11, 2010 5:48 AM

This dutchgirl in Holland Michigan wants The Netherlands to win the cup! If you're not Dutch you're not much!!!!!!!!!!

By dutchgirl | July 11, 2010 7:23 AM

GO HOLLAND!!!!

(catalan supporters)

By joan | July 11, 2010 10:28 AM

best wishes to the orrange
it will be the firest not the 3rd.

By haras | July 11, 2010 11:50 AM

Good luck to Holland in the final.
I wish that my country(England)had played with the passion and comittment that was displayed by all the teams in the semi-finals.

By Dave | July 11, 2010 11:52 AM

i hope the best for Netherlands.I always dreamed that i'll see the Orange get the World Cup, our time is now.If we win i'll be tomorrow in Amsterdam. Good luck to my fellow countrymen. My mum was dutch and i'm so proud of being her son, GOOD LUCK again.

By Dirk | July 11, 2010 11:58 AM

ga holland, uit Barcelona!! Best wishes for you tonight!

By Xavi | July 11, 2010 12:44 PM

THIS IS A GOODLUCK AND CONGRATULATION FROM KATHMANDU NEPAL.THE ORANJES WILL MAKE IT.THE RAIN IN SPAIN SHALL NEVER END TONITE.THE DUTCH AND THEIR ARDENT FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD SHALL CONQUER TONITE.GO ORANJES GO.

By Dr.ARJUN BUDHATHOKI | July 11, 2010 1:01 PM

Beats me how these fundamentalists know about the world cup soccer. They know how much excitement the world cup is generation so they must use the net, watch tv & read newspapers but they won't admit that. Bring on the world cup final I say & may the best team (NL) win. Pat

By Pat Grimes | July 11, 2010 1:24 PM

Good Luck from the USA. Sure wish I was in Zutphen!!!Go Big Oranje

By Howard de Barfield | July 11, 2010 2:52 PM

From Lima, Peru. Go Oranje, We count on you to defeat Spain! You count on us to support the team until the last minute!! You deserve to win the Cup.

By Oscar | July 11, 2010 3:34 PM

Too bad the Orange will get another silver medal. You just passed Uruguay as they hadn't Suárez playing.

Happy silver !

By Spain World Champion | July 11, 2010 5:20 PM

Wow. Right on. Spain is gold!

By Spain World Champion | July 11, 2010 10:08 PM

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