World Cup Finals: NETHERLANDS - SPAIN

Being female, people are often surprised that I'm a football fan. Some are still not quite convinced I actually enjoy the game even after asking about my favourite team and favourite players. They seem to think I only watch because apparently, football players are all "hot" and "sexy". Right... While I agree that some of the players do look good in shorts, is it really that hard for people to accept that "OH EMM GEE they're so cute" is not why I watch the game? Now that that's out of my system, on to today's random ramble...

The Germany - Uruguay game for third place was held tonight (and daaaaamn I really was hoping that Forlan would strike gold... instead of the crossbar...), which leaves only one match to be played. The Netherlands vs Spain. And oh by the way - When it comes to football / soccer, I am definitely Dutch and I really really really hope we'll win. We've played in the finals twice before - in '74 and in '78. We did win the European Cup finals in '88 and I'm really really chuffed about that, however vaguely remembering something that happened when I was a child is VERY different from experiencing it now and being able to actually appreciate it.

To stop myself from stressing too much about the upcoming game (just under 18 hours to go as I write this...), I figured I'd try to distract myself. I tried playing games, I tried watching videos on Youtube, I tried watching a movie, tried reading a book, tried talking to my friends... and I have to admit - none of it worked!!! I'm nervous. It's a big game. While I know that I won't be playing and am not in any way responsible for the outcome of the game, somehow I'm still nervous. Because really - How cool would it be if we actually won?! What an amazing experience would it be to be here in The Netherlands as "we" win the World Cup?

Every football fan here in The Netherlands as well as over there in Spain will probably be hoping that our / their national team will win. I'm not alone. That's good to know. It's just that I'm nervous and excited right now, and I'm sitting here all alone, in front of a computer screen. It's almost 3am. I really should be going to bed. Yet sleeping feels rather impossible right now. I'm still too psyched, too nervous, too amped. The game starts in 17,5 hours. In less than 20 hours we will know who the World Cup winners will be this year. Somehow I think I'll either be writing A LOT or very, very little in the next few days...