The atmosphere around Tuesday's Netherlands victory over Uruguay was something to savor
Becoming Dutch, for one night
  • The Netherlands team gave their massive legion of fans an unforgettable moment when they defeated Uruguay in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal.

By ANTHONY BURKHART
Cape Town
Updated Jul 09, 2010 17:27

Editor's Note: Anthony Burkhart is a Cocalico High School graduate attending the World Cup as a fan. Here is the latest in his series of stories.

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The Mother City has hosted tourists from all over the world for the last month, but Tuesday night's semifinal wasn't very reflective of the month-long melting pot.

"Hup Holland," and grab a round of Heinekens — Tuesday night, Cape Town belonged to the Dutch.

My night at a World Cup semifinal began four hours prior to kickoff when my park-and-ride bus dropped me off at the start of the fan walk, an organized game-day experience for fans that involved a 1.5-mile walk to the stadium through a festival atmosphere.

Prior to the Netherlands-Uruguay clash in Cape Town, there was so much orange in the streets — and given that atmosphere — it could have passed for a Philadelphia Flyers playoff game.

The Dutch were everywhere in the Cape. Radio reports said 30,000 Dutch fans made the trek to see the Oranje play in the semifinal. Thirty thousand? At the least.

The streets were orange. The bars were orange. The waterfront was orange. Any stand selling World Cup gear was filled with orange. This night belonged to the Dutch, and the fan walk really set the tone for the entire evening.

The walk took me about one and a half hours, with so many stops on the way at dancing shows, muscling through bars filled (with orange) to the doors, and taking pictures — so many pictures.

But the real marvel was Green Point Stadium. Situated on the Cape Town waterfront, and at the base of iconic Table Mountain, this stadium was built for the tournament and reflects all the grandeur and pageantry that is World Cup.

Inside Green Point it quickly became an obvious home atmosphere for the Dutch, and as I sat in the lower bowl, 19 rows from the field, the sea of orange seemed to grow and grow all around me.

Holland drew first blood on a wonder strike from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a goal rocketed into the top corner of the goal just 30 yards in front of me. Arguably the goal of the tournament, it was easily the most spectacular goal I've seen at World Cup. Through six games I've seen 17 goals in person, 13 of which have been at the goal nearest to me. But to see this one so close was a moment of brilliance in itself.

Each Dutch goal brought on a deafening roar, and they were the first fan base I've heard all tournament that hollered cheers and sang songs above the vuvuzelas.

As the game came to a close on Holland's 3-2 win, and the Dutch clinched a trip to the World Cup final, an orange conga line formed across Row 1 below me. The night life on Long Street was about to become one big, orange, all-night party.

Wednesday night I ventured to the Cape Town Fan Fest to view the second semifinal between Germany and Spain. This was a completely different experience to my previous fan fests, as the Cape Town venue hosts much more standing room. The viewing area was situated between the waterfront and the base of Table Mountain, providing a one-of-a-kind view as the sun set on Table Mountain.

Two hours prior to kickoff the viewing area was already full, hosting over 18,000 people. German flags waved, Spain colors were painted on faces, and South African flags and jerseys were still worn all over the grounds.

Spain's lone goal sent the massive crowd into a frenzy — a goal that held and sent Spain to the final for the first time in the country's history. To be part of a gathering of people that large outside of a stadium to watch a soccer match was truly a spine-tingling sight, and an incredible atmosphere to view a game of that stature.

As this trip enters its final week, I've seen so many places, people and games, but Cape Town, without a doubt, has topped them all. Two separate trips here have provided some of the most spectacular views and experiences I've ever head, be it Cape Point, golfing at the base of Table Mountain, having fresh fish and chips on the waterfront or seeing a World Cup semifinal 30 yards from the field.

But as wonderful as Cape Town has been, the ultimate highlight is just a few days away. With the Netherlands-Spain final set for Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg, the biggest dream of my entire life will finally come to fruition after 14 months of planning and 23 years of waiting — I'll finally, and incredibly, be in attendance at a FIFA World Cup final.

It's all still a bit surreal, but reality will surely sink in Sunday when those Johannesburg streets are flooded with over 100,000 fans either holding, or looking for, the hottest ticket in the world.

The streets will be orange. The bars will be red. And South African flags and jerseys will still be worn all over the grounds.

And I'll be there, United States gear and all, holding the Golden Ticket.

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