English fans in Amsterdam can only cheer about the missed Spanish penalty during the lost World Cup final

“The goal is the orgasm of football,” wrote the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano. His addition out Glory and tragedy of football is sometimes forgotten: “Just like the orgasm, the goal is becoming less and less common in modern life.”

Galeano must not have thought of British football fans in an Amsterdam pub when he made that observation. The fans had come to cheer and be ecstatic, but they saw the England women’s national team lose the World Cup final 1-0 to Spain. So the long-awaited release did not materialize for them.

On Sunday morning everyone is still full of anticipation when Coco’s Outback slowly fills up with Lionesses supporters: some in summer clothes, others with an English flag draped around their shoulders or in the shirt of their favorite football club. On the screens in the bar, the British analysts praise the Dutch national coach Sarina Wiegman of the English team. She has brought a “winning mentality” and “confidence” to the team.

After England became European champions in their own country two years ago under her leadership, they will now win the world title. This is beyond dispute for the British expats and tourists in the bar – only contradicted by the handful of Spaniards present. „It’s coming home”they say with bravado.

Obscene

Expectant applause sounds after the national anthem ‘God Save the King’. The applause that followed in the first half mainly occurred when the English managed to thwart a dangerous Spanish attack. And once when the English attacker Lauren Hemp hits the crossbar with a placed shot.

The team of Spanish national coach Jorge Vilda, which was at odds with its players before the tournament, is technically more skilled, but Wiegman’s players are disciplined and grouped defensively.

expat and English football fanCharlie Gibbon We are a nation of losers

It becomes quiet in the pub for a moment when Spain makes it 1-0 after half an hour of football through left back Olga Carmona. Still, it shouldn’t spoil the fun, because there are bloody marys, beer and fish and chips.

For once, the English fans can cheer en masse – albeit out of relief and not out of ecstasy. When the English goalkeeper Mary Earps saves a penalty halfway through the second half, everyone is on the benches. But more than 16,000 kilometers away, in the Australian evening, Wiegman’s team cannot gain the momentum. The expectant desire gradually begins to give way to frustration. If a yellow card is handed out after a minor foul, the referee will have to bear the brunt. “She’s crazy!”

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From disappointment to resignation

In the minutes that tick away in the remainder of the final, an equalizer is not achieved. Disappointment gives way to resignation, also for Karen and Lyndon Smith, who are on holiday in Europe on a cruise ship. They came to Amsterdam from Rotterdam because the capital wants to ban cruise ships from docking. Karen is especially happy that she has finally been able to watch women’s football. “I’ve been watching men’s football all my life,” she says. And she is looking forward to that. “They earn way too much money and don’t know how to behave. They have become disconnected from society.” She doesn’t have a good word to say about it. “It’s obscene.” She says it is wonderful that young girls who want to play football now also have role models. “But it was high time.”

More avid fans are more disappointed. Charlie Gibbon, expat in Amsterdam, was actually jealous of his friends in England who started getting drunk early on in the many fan zones that have been set up there. “You should actually be in your own country for these kinds of events,” he says. But afterwards he might not be so dissatisfied with being in Amsterdam after all. “We are a nation of losers,” he said, with a sense of exaggeration.

The Spaniards are very rich and receive a sporting pat on the back when they leave the pub. An anticlimax remains for the English fans. After the last beers and cocktails, they head off into the Amsterdam sun.

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Spain is the new world champion – and underlines Europe’s new power in sport

The Spanish super talent Salma Paralluelo during the final, which Spain won 1-0. ” class=”dmt-article-suggestion__image” src=”https://images.nrc.nl/eVfRiY-HcrqXMLnq-0ZTDCm_u4E=/160×96/smart/filters:no_upscale()/s3/static.nrc.nl/images/gn4/stripped/data104220197-035cd7.jpg”/>

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