Holland and the World Cup

The madness of the World Cup has never been fully understood or recognized by Americans. Americans fail to see the importance of this international sport that most countries call football and not soccer. I got little tastes here and there of this fever known as the World Cup in my latin household. I grew up with my Sunday mornings dedicated to watching my dad play soccer in Oakland. It was a ritual accompanied by going to church. I was a devoted follower of my father, admiring him from the sidelines thinking My dad is the best player of the whole team. It is a strange sensation to look at this same old man age...but I am getting off topic.

The madness of the World Cup in Holland was like nothing I had ever seen for soccer before. Even those Sunday mornings cheering my father from the sidelines. Watching other fans yell and scream in Spanish could never amount to the thrill of the World Cup that I experienced from the moment I was in Europe. What a great time to go! The whole world united under this common goal of watching and supporting their team. It was a union of brotherly competition that brings the world together! I love that. I love that differences within countries dissipate and people come together for this beautiful sport.

I can't lie and say that I watch futbol religiously or even know the different teams. I know a little bit here and there but not enough to say I know anything worthwhile. There was a little girl in me that frothed from the ashes when I was in Amsterdam that watched with all the thrill I used to feel watching my papito play. So I screamed and yelled as if I was   a lifetime faithful to the Holland team. I wore my oranje (orange in Dutch) shirt and I supported "my" team to the end. After all, I was in Holland and Holland has always been good to me.
Anyway, I have so many photographs from the World Cup games leading to the semi-finals, the semi-finals, and the final itself. Sadly, Holland didn't win but in any case there is always the next championship. Hup, Holland Hup!

I have not dedicated myself to editing all the photos of this amazing experience but I want to share some with you all. From the Holland vs Uruguay game:

My Hermanita, Joanna

My friend Siemen

Celebration!

Save the toilet paper

Winners!

Madness in the streets

Many hours later...still celebrating victory into the finals:

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