Woo Hoo! The Netherlands are in the World Cup final!

Looks like they have the big screens set up at Museumplien between the Rijks and Van Gough museums. That's where I would be! I was in Amsterdam during Euro 2000. At the semi-finals at Amsterdam Arena the Dutch lost a heartbreaking match to Italy. Some fans didn't take it very well; between Centraal Station and Dam Square windows were smashed, garbage cans set on fire, and god help the souvenir store that forgot to hide it's Italian flags:) On one side of the street riot police were breaking up the trouble, on the other side American and Japanese tourists were taking pictures of spectacle. So be prepared for the ecstasy and agony;)

You might want to shield yourself from the unruly mobs when they lose to Germany :-P

Yeah should Holland be paired up with Germany....that will be one wild final; win or loose!

Luckily, I'm staying with friends so I think we'll manage to avoid the overly wild side. It's going to be fun. Pam

A Dutch-German final would be very, very interesting.

You should have a great time there Pamela. I would definitely try to go to one of the places that have it on the big screen. Just be prepared to head off in the opposite direction if trouble starts. I have a feeling it will just be a big party though.

Yes,.. if it turns out that Holland is going to paired up with Germany for the World Cup Final, the result will be a repeat of 1974: Holland loses to Germany!!

I couldn't be any more envious!

I was in Berlin at the start of the WC and that was fun, but the final is a whole different (foot) ball game.

Oranje will need some luck to pull this off.

The only luck Holland needs is if the final goes to penalty kicks. Holland is notoriously bad at taking them! But on paper both teams are equal....my money's on Holland.

I'm rooting for the Netherlands. Have a blast, Pam! I wish I was there too.

Paul the octopus has spoken. It will be Spain vs Netherlands in the final! Have a great time!

Paul the octopus has spoken. It will be Spain vs Netherlands in the final! Have a great time!

Pfui on Paul the Octopus, I don't trust him. He is so shifty!

The best places to watch the World Cup are pubs, restaurants, or cafes. Those built-up arenas are absolute madhouses, just getting a drink or going to the porta-potties in those kind of crowds is a going to be a job.

Have fun where ever you are!

Sorry, but watching that dismal Spain-Paraguay match after watching Germany obliterate Argentina 4-0 was more of a "let's see who's going to lose to Germany next week" than anything else.

Museumplein was a madhouse for the semi-final. My wife and I took the tram down and watched along the edge for about 15 minutes before half-time. We had plenty of time to make it back to a pub across the street from our hotel for 2/3 of the second half. I'm glad I wasn't down there at the end - for sure!

I too am pulling for Germany tonight - I will be Berlin on Sunday and think it would be fantastic to watch the final there! :)

Paul the Octopus said Germany was to win the 2008 Euro Cup final. The match was Germany vs. Spain. Unfortunately the better team (back then) won - Spain. So Paul was wrong. Let's hope he's wrong today again. Tonite's semi-final is the actual final of this world cup. Both of tonite's teams outplay the Dutch with ease. Tonite we'll find out whether it'll be Tapas or Bratwurst on Sunday... But we already know it'll be tulips for decoration ;-)Also note: With the Dutch Nike made it into the finale. Since both Germany and Spain wear Adidas outfit (made in Germany) it'll definitely be a USA vs. Germany final - from that point of view.

To answer your original question, it looks like the Museumplein (the open space between the Rijksmuseum and the Concergebouw) has hosted a large screen to watch the games. So if you want to see a huge crowd of orange-clad soccer fans, this is probably the place.

AMSTERDAM (AP)—Amsterdam authorities say they expect at least 100,000 football fans to flock to Museum Square to watch the Netherlands’ first World Cup final in 32 years.

The Dutch have never won the World Cup, but reached the final in 1974 and ’78.

Also, a huge screen will be erected at the North Sea Jazz Festival, which brings top international musicians to Rotterdam for one of Europe’s largest annual music events. Organizers fear that the football will siphon off attendance.

Win or lose Sunday’s final, the players will be welcomed home on Tuesday with a massive parade through Amsterdam’s canals. At least 1.5 million people— twice the city’s resident population—are expected to attend.

Oh my, I hadn't thought about the welcome home parade. I'm still there on Tuesday!

Pam

Deutchland uber alles!!!!

Orange trägt nur die Müllabfuhr
Only garbage men wear orange ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIn5WQ9d18E&feature=related

I have to root for Germany because we have family there but I'm not so sure it will be a walk. The Dutch have looked very organized from the start. I think they're capable of beating anyone.

Considering I get 100% of my World Cup news from this forum, I appreciate the updates! Let me know who wins, will ya? Now I have to go try to figure out just who this talking octopus is. :)

Paul was right. Darn that octopus.

So, bring on the Spanish!

El Pulpo (Pablo) lives!

I wasn't rooting for either team, but I'm shocked at how badly Germany played this match compared to the rest of the tournament. They looked tired and flat-footed!
My money is still on Holland to take the trophy.

I'm with Michael: if the Germans had played like this during the earlier games of the tournament they'd never advanced beyond the group stage ... I can't believe that they played so far below their potential :-(

I have to cheer for Holland now.

Well, I guess it's time to place foot in mouth.

I guess I have to sport my orange sweater on Sunday.

Based on the certainty of a German victory expressed earlier in this thread, and the support for the Dutch, I'd have to say there is some Northern Euro bias on these boards.

Spain came into the WC ranked # 2 in the world. They won the Euro Championship two years ago (over Germany) and Paul chose La Espana. Of course Spain was going to win! Argentina barely qualified and England was overrated. Those were not sides the caliber of Spain.

Go Oranje!!!

You're forgetting that the US knocked Spain out of the Confederations Cup last summer...so how good can they be;)

While I'm on a roll, for the next four years the US soccer team is officially better than Italy, France and England!

Michael, this time I don't quite agree with you. The Spanish team didn't really impress me with true skill. They were the better team tonight as they won against a German team that played at their worst of the tournament. But who knows if that's enough against the Dutch on Sunday.

We were in Amsterdam during the last WC when the Netherlands were playing (not the finals); however, it was totally fun - the entire city was into it - when they won that round you could hear the cheering throughout the entire city.

yay Schneider! go USA, it's late but never too late!

i'm surprised how badly Germany played, but Spain only scored 1 goal. mmm....

i'm a bad gambler, i'll just guess Netherlands will win.

What's with the octopus? I thought that was hockey?!

Viva Spain...enjoy the crazy Dutchmen when their team loses on Sunday!!!

Paul the Octopus has spoken again! Vamanos Espana! He's been 100% correct in all his predictions for this tournament, and clearly he is a very knowledgeable fan of the beautiful game! You may see a boring style of play from Las Rojas, OctoPaul and I see skill, patience and unprecidented depth. Spain will prevail and recieve their first ever World Cup title.

Gooooooo Netherlands!

The better team won, but the Dutch nearly pulled it out.

The Dutch did something I have never seen in many years of watching and playing sports. It is something you'd never see an American team in any sport do. In fact it took me by such surprise it confused me.

When a referee mistakenly awarded a corner kick to the Dutch, instead of taking the kick, the Dutch voluntarily turned over the ball to the Spanish keeper.

Really remarkable.

Ok, I did it. I watched a good portion of the game. While I can't say I'll trade hockey-watching for soccer-watching (I only have so much room in my head for sports rules), I was remarkably impressed by the Oscar-worthy performances from the players on both sides whenever an opponant came within a foot of their personal space. I've never seen so many grown men fall to the ground, clutching various body parts in "pain," then pop right up after a yellow card was flashed. Now that was entertaining!

I think a lot of people will agree that today's game was not a great example of what is good about football. The amount of fouling was ridiculous -- they nearly doubled (or maybe they did double) the record for number of yellow cards in a WC final. Hopefully you don't base your decision about the worthiness of football-watching solely on this game.

Viva Espana.....just too bad that the final wasn't as good as a lot of the preliminary matches. Sad for the many people who only watch the final game in sports.

It has been extraordinary weekend. The Dutch are amazing. I did not watch the game at Museum Plein, but I did go check out the action with my Dutch friends that afternoon. The people pouring into Amsterdam for the final were incredible in their costumes, in their attitudes, in their singing, in their good cheer. Everywhere was orange. The Museum Plein had 180,000 people in it. When we went by around 3:30 or 4 there were probably half that and it was crowded. I watched the game at my friends' house and we wore our orange shirts and were very sad. I too thought that the Spanish exhibited extraordinary acting ability. I found myself echoing NFL comments regarding past bears opponents during the game. ; )

The next day I was in Amsterdam and there was less orange, but the decorations weren't down and I was told that they would not come down until after Tuesday.

Today, I had planned to go to the Van Gogh Museum, but I had to move on to plan B due to the celebrations. Yes, celebrations for number 2. I went to a canal mansion and then the resistance museum where the final video was filled with people waving Orange and welcoming the troops.

As for the parade in the canals, it was wonderful. What good spirits, good cheer , good sports. I did see one Tshirt: Wanted Howard Webb. But the parade was incredible. I'll try and post a video sometime soon. If this is the party they throw when they lose, I can't begin to imagine what it's like when these people win!

Pam

Hey Pam,

Thanks for the update, sounds like quite the experience (and nice to hear people are still celebrating regardless of the outcome)! Hope the rest of your trip goes well, we expect a full report upon your return. :)