The 90-minute Challenge

During the time I was in Frankfurt it was still only the group stage but the atmosphere was already pretty good and people seemed to be partying and enjoying themselves. Germany had won their first two matches and fans started to get excited about the way the Nationalmannschaft was playing (but I have the feeling I chose the wrong time to be in Germany, because it was nothing compared with what was to come). It was interesting to just walk aroud in town and observe. It seemed incredibly full even in places that were nothing to do with the World Cup, so many people from all over the world with cameras and camcorders, flags and football colours. But in the city centre it was like another stadium had been built up right by the river, the "Fan Fest" was a huge success and on the bus ride from work back home my mum saw nothing but a sea of orange wigs, shirts and flags: the Dutch cheering for their team.