A HAMPSHIRE pub will turn a sea of orange tonight as the county’s Dutch fans continue their quest for World Cup glory.
The Netherlands take on Australia just days after thrashing World champions Spain 5-1.
That victory was celebrated in style at the Silver Fern Pub in Warsash where scores of Holland fans transformed the watering hole into an outpost of the Netherlands and danced around the pub in their clogs in disbelief at the score line.
The Dutch fans are hoping to continue the party atmosphere when Holland kick-off their second Group B tie in Brazil at 5pm today.
They have every reason to be confident after Australia suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chile, and a win could see the Netherlands qualify for the second round.
Christiene White, 44, who works at the Netherlands consulate in Hythe, is hoping Dutch fans across Hampshire can leave work early to make the kick-off.
Christiene said: “A lot of fans are very buoyant because of the first match. I hope many of them will manage to watch the game.
“We are hoping that everyone will be wearing orange and funny hats, and make an effort to look the part.”
She is positive about the team’s chances this year and believes they could make the final.
“There were a lot of celebrations when we beat Spain.
“People could not believe how well we were playing, it really felt like revenge for when we lost to Spain in 2010.
“We have a very good team this year. The young players are showing their passion for playing for the team and they are being helped by the likes of Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie.”
“I think we can make the final, but there is a saying in Holland that you can sometimes celebrate too quickly.”
The crunch game comes two days after Saints made their own Dutch connections by appointing Holland legend Ronald Koeman as manager. Joining him will be his brother Erwin as assistant manager and Jan Kluitenberg as assistant first team coach.
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