Ruud Gullit and his fabulous hair do battle with Chris Hughton
Fun Fact…
There are estimated to over 16 million bicycles in use in the Netherlands. That’s nearly one per each person in the country which – when you think about young kids who are too young to cycle, the infirm and elderly and people who are just crap a riding bikes – doesn’t really make any sense. The nation is also considered to be the world leader in made-up statistics about bicycles.
Wikipedia ‘Fact’…
There is no minimum drinking age in the Netherlands. In 1983, the Dutch government replaced milk for all schoolkids with a mandatory lunchtime can of Heineken.
National Hero…
Thanks to his own work and the influence he exerted on future generations, Vincent van Gogh is widely regarded as one of the most famous Dutch people. Largely unknown and not celebrated in his lifetime, his legend has grown thanks almost as much to his colourful private life as his famous brushstrokes. It was widely reported that he cut off his ear as a mark of his love for a prostitute. This story is thought to be apocryphal and more recent theories suggest he did it after hearing a Jedward album.
Football Pedigree…
The pioneering idea of ‘Total Football’ has given Dutch football a sense of superiority which almost makes up for the lack of trophies amassed by the national team. Despite producing some of the world’s best players, they’ve only converted nine appearances at the semi-final stage (or better) of major international tournaments into one victory – that being Euro 88. In recent years, they’ve ignored their lofty footballing principles on occasion to play a different style of game. And at the 2010 World Cup, that game was kung-fu. Talented, but more pragmatic than they once were, the Netherlands will be a major threat to anyone they face. And just anyone’s face.
Acceptable National Stereotype…
Free-thinking, modern liberals
Unacceptable National Stereotype…
Self-righteous hippies
Don’t be surprised if they…
Kick their way to the final and say they don’t normally like having to kick their way to the final, but they’ll do it if they have to.
