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Orange fever Dutch fans pull out all the stops for semifinal
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2000 12:43 PM
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Market stalls closed early, businesses stopped answering phones and the streets bustled with hoards of soccer fans trying to make it home on time for the big game. Orange fever had gripped the Dutch nation ahead of the high-stakes Italy game Thursday evening which will determine who plays France in the final. The atmosphere bristled with tension as people wished each other good luck on the streets of the Dutch capital. Ellie Wijshake, bartender in the Amsterdam cafe Van Wou, helped paint her bar orange for the European championships. ”Everything is orange but my underwear,” she said with a grin. Her fingernails, hair, lips and shoes were transformed as the country showed an unusual display of national pride. Some painted their cars and houses. “I do it every time the Dutch are in the finals,” she added. Patrons set up extra chairs and hung decorations in anticipation of a busy night. The Dutch soccer song blared from the speakers: “The Netherlands is orange from north to south. We are the champions.” Wijshake predicted a cautious 2-1 victory over Italy: One goal from Patrick Kluivert and a second from striker Dennis Bergkamp. The Netherlands is one of Europe's most soccer crazy countries and over 75 percent of the population - 10 million people - were expected to watch Thursday's game. The royal family, Oranje Nassau, inspired the color choice of the national soccer team. “People do crazy things, put on weird clothing and think anything goes, but that will only add to the disappointment,” said Aldo Ranieri, the head chef of one of Amsterdam's most popular Italian restaurants. L' Angoletto, down the street from cafe Van Wou, will have a quiet evening. The staff of the traditional family bistro hopes to slip upstairs to catch most of the action between serving meals. “I see Italy like two decades ago,” Ranieri said while pouring flour into a pizza dough mixer. “They'll slowly, but surely, take over everything,” he said. Italy won the World Cup in 1982. He forecast a 3-0 win over the Dutch and tough final against France.
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