It took a while for the peak to come, and when it came it was good. Well anyway, I'm telling you know that this new, improved, much more orange series has peaked early. But then I'm getting ahead of myself so I'll rewind slightly and go back to yesterday morning.
Having slept in and missed breakfast, not that I'm a big breakfast eater in the first place but that's not what you're here for, we ate lunch on the square that had become a sea of orange overnight. A stage had also sprung up, face painting, photos booths, coca cola stands. It was boss.
The streets surrounding the square were just full of people wearing orange, with the occasional Norwegian strolling through - and a table of Germans next to us! The atmosphere was electric and continued to build and build.
I had my face painted (see exhibit A above), collected even more freebies - I now have a zillion wall charts - took photos with everyone (see exhibit B below) and everything. Won a pair of coca cola sunglasses, joined in with the group dances, had a sing song.
Being mistook for being Dutch also started to become a running theme for the day, although I have no idea why everyone kept speaking Dutch to me. LOOK AT ME.
Oh, wait...
While in the fanzone we also spotted Liverpool's Casey Stoney and Siobhan Chamberlain checking out the pre-match activities & couldn't resist getting a quick pic!
So the fanzone was boss, proper boss.
They were doing a walk from there to the stadium but also had a free bus running from the station so we headed up there to hop on the bus.
Once we arrived at the stadium, the first stop was the fan shop where I bought some merch - a tournament top, scarf and programme - and then went round to wait to welcome the buses.
While we were waiting for the teams to arrive, I spied OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST and LIVERPOOL FAN Sam Quek, who is over here with Channel 4. I called her over for a selfie and then some other Brits behind also wanted a pic with her, all the Dutch were just looking on confused!
The buses arrived, Norway receiving a warm welcome but nothing compared to the reception for Dutch team; Shanice van de Sanden came off the bus ramping up the crowd.
Inside the stadium each section was split with flags representing the colours of the nations competing, we were in the Portugal part so had green flags to wave!
The opening ceremony was some guy who had been in the fanzone walking round trying and failing to get a Mexican wave going and a girl singing a song about fire.
This is where we peak.
The game was BOSS. Shanice van de Sanden was just on fire from the opening minute, that now-familiar bursting pace almost teeing the Netherlands up for a goal within 60 seconds!
There were chances at each end in the first half, both 'keepers with decent saves - there'll be more on the game itself over on @LFCladiesfans later this evening/ tomorrow.
So the game reached the hour mark goalless, the minutes started creeping by and then, THEN. A cross is floated in, van de Sanden goes for it with her head AND SCORES. Oh my god I went mental. Like, the most mental I've celebrated since the Reds won the league the second time. It was insane, the crowd went absolutely wild. It was the highlight of my life, bar none. My voice went, my hands were shaking.
After the game the Netherlands did a lap of honour and we had a sing song to all the mental Dutch dance songs and sang for Mandy and Shanice.
Then I got a selfie with almost the whole Dutch team and ADA HEGERBERG (!) and Emilie Haavi because Boston.
So that was that. Day two and I want to live in this orange bubble forever.
P.S Don't try limited edition Heineken H41, it tastes not nice.
ALL MY PICS SO FAR - mum & dad click this link
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