Living in Tamarindo
Holland vs. Japan – World Cup 2010
Posted by Kristina
After the US vs. Slovenia game ended around 6:30pm, we left for Ballito, because we had a 1:30pm game, Holland vs. Japan! We arrived in Ballito around 1am, this gave us about 7 hours of sleep, until we woke up and prepared for yet another game!
We headed for Suncoast Casino in Durban, which is one of the biggest casinos in South Africa and turns out to have parking very close to the Moses Mabhida Stadium. They have everything, EXCEPT for sports betting, which is all Patrick wanted to do. Needless to say, we didn’t stick around long, we were on the hunt for breakfast! There is a great walk from the casino into Durban, which has all kinds of street performers, and probably hundreds of activities for the World Cup 2010, including cricket on the beach, plastic balls to play in, rock wall climbing, skateboarding competitions, concerts and much much more.
Cricket on the beach.
Plastic ball.
Dutch concert, couldn't understand a word.
Skatepark and graffiti
We came across a great place with outdoor seating, near the beach, a great place to people watch and plenty of Holland fans! We watched all the Japanese and Dutch flags and costumes walk past. Fans really go to all lengths to support their team, getting a little extravagant, crazy, and absolutely hysterical.
Holland fans
Holland fans. Can you find Patrick in all the orange?
After a great breakfast we headed to the game. A little exhausted from the travels of the past two days, its easy to wake up the second you walk into the stadium. Vuvuzelas are blowing, fans are going crazy and the feeling is contagious. We’ve found that a lot of South Africans that do not follow soccer, select the most popular team, then head to the game decked out head to toe in “Spanish” or “Dutch” or “Australian” gear. Kind of annoying. Fans or not, most of the stadium was orange jerseys, orange wigs, orange flags, etc.
Orange you going to say orange.
Despite the lack of Japanese fans, they managed to pull this…out of they’re pocket, it was amazing. We cannot figure out where they put it, how they got it through security, not that its not allowed, but literally, how did they get it through security.
Japanese flag.
Holland fans followed suit…
The game started and Japan was dominating, they had great footwork and pretty good defense. I was rooting for Japan, if its not the US or Germany, the under-dog has my vote! Holland is obviously the favorite to win, on paper, and they did, 1-0.
