Thousands of Dutch fans celebrate semi-final win
Around 50,000 Dutch fans erupted in a single joyful roar Tuesday as
they watched their team qualify for the World Cup final on what was
claimed to be Europe’s largest loose-standing TV screen.
As the final whistle blew in Cape Town, supporters jumped for joy,
punched the air and some even rolled on the ground in glee amid a
cacophony of car hooters and vuvuzelas. Wearing orange hats, shirts,
sunglasses, wigs and boas, they clapped each other on the back wildly
and waved Dutch flags as fireworks were set off on the Museumplein
(Museum square) where an 88-square-metre (96.2-square-yard) mega screen
had been erected outside of the famous Rijksmuseum. Police estimated
that between 40,000 and 50,000 people had gathered on the Amsterdam
square, saying there was a ``convivial commotion”.
City streets around the country were coloured orange by men, women
and children donning clothing and adornments in the colour of the Oranje
Elftal (Orange Eleven) and blowing noisily on all types of horns as they
revelled in their victory. Entire homes around the country have been
covered in large orange sheets and many streets lined with small orange
flags fluttering in the wind.
Mega screens had been erected in several cities, three in the
southern city of Eindhoven, for Dutch fans to see the Netherlands
qualify for its third World Cup final — their first since 1978 when they
were beaten by Argentina. “There are 25,000 people at the three big
screen venues and another 5,000 more at other spots around town,”
Eindhoven spokeswoman Peet Ryken told AFP.
``The atmosphere is cheerful. About 10 people fell ill, probably due
to a combination of alcohol use and stress, but no serious incidents
have been reported.” About 700 travellers in transit watched the game on
a giant screen installed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.
Several minutes after the final whistle, Dutch airline KLM announced
that three extra flights from Schiphol will depart for Johannesburg on
Saturday for Sunday’s final against either Germany or Spain. Some 11.5
million people, out of a country of 16.5 million, were expected to watch
the game on television, as Dutch media reported there was a shortage of
large LED screens for rent.
In the run-up to the final, some 15,000 extra television sets per
week had been sold, said one newspaper, about 40 percent more than
usual.
The heart foundation, meanwhile, issued a warning that football
supporters were up to 2.5 times more likely to suffer heart problems
during such a key match, and called on fans to “stay calm”. AMSTERDAM,
Wednesday (AFP)
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