Holland - Uruguay 3 - 2: Netherlands on to World Cup final

Last night's victory over Uruguay means the Dutch soccer team has made it to the World Cup final - for the first time in 32 years.

More than 10 million Dutch people watched the match last night, either at home, or in a crowd on a town square with a large tv screen, or in one of the countless neighbourhood cafes that had installed a tv screen.

The Netherlands are in the final for the third time. The first time was in 1974 (against Germany), and the second time in 1978 (against Argentina). Both times Holland lost, and particularly the loss against Germany is still felt as a 'national trauma'.
Germany, being Holland's large neighbour country (and occupying force during World War II), is still the 'arch rival'.

And it may well be that the final match may again be against Germany. Today is the match between Germany and Spain, and the winner will play against the Netherlands, on Sunday July 11, 8.30 pm.

In Amsterdam, like in the rest of the country, massive street parties broke out after the match. On Museumplein about 70,000 people had gathered to see Holland win.
Only in Den Haag (The Hague) there were some riots after the match, and 18 arrests were made.



Footage of last few minutes of match, at Museumplein