When we arrived, there was a nice contingent of obsessed, happy fans dressed in orange in front of the big screen tv. They were making quite a racket cheering on the Dutch team in what turned into a laugher over Yugoslavia, 6-1. The most interesting thing about this group was the Dr. Seuss hats that some of the supporters wore. These hats were about half a meter high with white and orange stripes. In the middle of all the chanting and merrymaking was a 30 something Dutch bloke who was the only one to remain after the match ended.
The four of us finished our meals and made our way for the nearly empty, but perfectly located Dutch table. The Spain France game was starting in half an hour and we wanted to see what was supposed to be one of the premier matches.
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Upon taking our place at the table, Fritz began chatting with his newfound
friends in a thick Dutch accent. "How you like the Dutch team? They
going to win the cup, no?!?" We were amused by Fritz and his enormous enthusiasm. He bought us a round of beer and we began discussing everything under the sun like long lost friends. We proceeded to have a few drinks and watch the Spain vs. France match. Without dissent, we were pulling for the Spanish to win. Figo and Raul were spectacular players but to be totally honest, we just weren't fans of the French. |
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In spite of the French winning a hard fought match, we were all in good
enough spirits to continue partying well into the evening. Round after
round of beer flowed and we began to fan out across the pub. Fritz
and I ended up at the blackjack table (yes, they permit a limited amount
of gambling. Incredible.) playing for quite a few hours while John,
Tony and Kevin cruised around the pub, periodically checking in at home
base. |
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The evening ended with a whimper as Fritz left to find his sister's flat
in his confused state. But the stage was set to meet again the next
night. The next night, we found Fritz already soused and at the blackjack table upon our arrival. He was in good spirits having spent the entire day sailing in the archipelago of Stockholm and had the sunburn to prove it. After again leaving in a cloudy state to find his sister's flat, we met him for his final night in Stockholm. It turned out that it was his birthday and he had chosen to spend it with us. |
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Another night of partying and general debauchery was culminated with
several calls back to the US putting Fritz on the phone to say 'hello',
a promise to support the Dutch in their next match against Italy and several
shots to celebrate a unique character's birthday. In spite of our
success at the Dubliner not being what was expected, we were ecstatic to
meet such an great guy like Fritz. Two days after Fritz returned to the Netherlands, John, Kevin and I were on an overnight cruiseliner for Helsinki. On the main bar TV was the Azzuri/Dutch match.... |
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After an agonzing match for the Dutch in which they missed 2 penalty
kicks, they finally succumbed to a determined Italian team in penalty kicks.
Another major disappointment for a powerful Dutch team that has unfortunately
always fallen short of expectations. In honor of Fritz and to let him know that we were supporting him, wearing virtual orange and white Dr. Seuss hats right along with him, Kevin wrote a postcard shortly after the match had ended. In it he lamented the fact that the dutch had lost and implored Fritz to write back 'before riggermortis had set in." What do you think the odds are of Fritz understanding what the hell Kevin was writing? 1,000 to 1. Regardless, we had a great time with Fritz and extend an open invitation to him to visit us anytime in the States. |