Rafael van der Vaart is deeply impressed by the entourage in Budapest and in particular in the Puskás Arena. The former international is experiencing up close how the capital of Hungary turns the Dutch in the run-up to the eighth final between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Van der Vaart says he is homesick for the first time since the moment he decided to stop as a football player. The Dutch national team kicks off against the Czech Republic at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening for a place in the last eight of the European championship.
While Van der Vaart provides the analysis with Tom Egbers and Pierre van Hooijdonk in the run-up to the game, the 109-times international of the Dutch says he is impressed by the atmosphere in the Puskás Aréna. “This is wonderful,” said the analyst at the NOS. “This is also the first time since I stopped that I thought: I wish it was ten years ago. The field looks fantastic. The fans, that’s fantastic. I already had that European Championship feeling yesterday But today, with all the fans we met on the street, that’s really great.”
The the Dutch fans are ready! ????#EURO2020 #NEDCZE pic.twitter.com/L0ef5cJJfy
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) June 27, 2021
“You like that, don’t you?” Van der Vaart asks Egbers. “It almost gives me goosebumps. You can also see it in the players. They came onto the field when they arrived by bus. You saw them enjoying themselves. You really enjoy this.” Egbers completely agrees with Van der Vaart’s words. “It’s been so long since you’ve been in a full stadium. That’s a very special sensation.” The Puskás Arena will be filled to the brim with sixty thousand spectators on Sunday evening. Eight thousand of these come from the Netherlands. The the Dutch Legion has been clearly present in the streets of Budapest all Sunday with flags and loud singing.
“That is also because we are traveling for the first time”, Van Hooijdonk tries to nuance the situation somewhat. “We worked three matches in Amsterdam. As a member of the selection in 2000, I didn’t like playing all the matches in the Netherlands. The association I have with tournaments is that it belongs in another country.” Van Hooijdonk is particularly impressed by the battle scene. “From the outside I always think the stadium is great. But when you see this on the inside, that’s how a football stadium should be. You don’t see concrete, you see seats. Of course you have the entrances, but otherwise it is a big whole. I think it’s really beautiful.”
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