As many of you 'footie' fans know, they are playing the European Cup 2008 this week. Tonight Holland play Italy. Holland hasn't beaten Italy since the 1978 World Cup - so this is an exciting event for locals here. And now for us, the new locals. (Note - the 'fan' photos above were collected and not taken by me.)
Every four years, sixteen of Europe's top national football (soccer) sides compete in the European Cup. Held exactly halfway between World Cups, the European Cup is the smaller competition, but the players and fans are intense and passionate. Rivalries between nations in Europe extend back hundreds of years. Some of these grudges are played out on the field.
The UK was knocked out of this competition this year, so their best hope is that Germany doesn't do well.
Holland is playing and since this past Friday, the local football pub has been blasting music and is decorated fully in orange. And although we so noone in Wassenaar dressed in oranje for Queen's Day, they've been decked out for the past few days in orange.
Even without the English in attendance, things are tense. Hostilities broke out between Polish and German fans in the days before this past Sunday's match, resulting in the arrest of seven German men.
Tonight during my blogging, we have had to step outside a couple of times as Holland has scored in the game against Italy (the current world champs). We can hear a roar come from Rickie's Bar in town - but all around us you can hear people shouting and whistling. Kind a fun!
Ok - now it is three to nil - will finish posting when the game is over!
Well, looks like we'll be following the rest of the competition with a little extra excitement.
1 comment:
0
Post a Comment