Oranje fans come to terms with loss

The skies opened up in the afternoon in Amsterdam to perhaps wash away the tears that fell the pervious night as a heart-broken country watched the Spanish flaunt the World Cup.

‘Netherlands weeps' was one local newspaper headline, "Again no' howled another while another said ‘Three minutes too long' under its headline ‘Netherland, oh Netherland'. As the Dutch nurse the hangover of disappointment, The Telegraph headline screamed, ‘They fought like lions' and that could well sum up what the fans here intend to do. Pick themselves up and show how only the Dutch can party, win or lose.

Their beaten heroes are expected later today (yesterday) while the last few days of hot weather is expected to change and thunderstorms are expected in some parts of the country.

Twenty-four hours after their spirits were dampened and their dreams dashed by Andres Iniesta's 116th minute goal, the Dutch fans in their ‘Orange' are expected to reassemble and give their football team a warm welcome today, similar to the one that they extended to their 1988 European Championship winners.

A boat procession on the city's canals (many had booked boats to follow the team in anticipation of their Cup triumph) and then their presence at the Musuemplein, which may not have the expected million but should be generously filled up, are part of the welcome plans for the team.

SBS6 (TV channel) had bought exclusive rights to broadcast backstage and player interviews on board their boat angering public broadcasters. But now after the defeat the telecast is likely to be shared.

Another sharing fact that is yet to be finalised is how much each of the Dutch players will get from the euros 19 million cheque the team reportedly received from Fifa (Spain got euros 24 million). The Dutch players have never been as lucky as some of their counterparts from other national teams but after their runners-up display each player could end up getting around euros 200,000 according to local reports.

Having soaked in the disappointment and despair of finishing second-best for the third time, Dutch fans gave their own reasons. "Our team's shirts were sponsored by Nike while Spain's was adidas and that seems to have a role to play somehow along with the adidas Jabulani ball," said Franko as he trudged along to the Central Station to go home.

"Robben had two good chances before they scored and even if one of them had been converted we would have been partying. I would not have minded a tie-breaker result," said Tezegeit, an-Eritrean-born 22-year-old awaiting Dutch citizenship.

"We taught football to the Spanish but now we have to learn how to win from them. I do not know when we will get a favourable draw and make it again to the final and erase these sad memories," said Bert, an Amsterdam fireman on duty.