Just now the Dutch team have landed at Schiphol Airport. An ending of a period of time that started on the 21st of May in Switzerland.
It will probably take some time before the Dutch players have processed the loss against Portugal. They are returning to a country where thousands of people called in sick today in order to cope with their hangover.
In the shops all orange items have been taken out of the racks already and the flags from the streets disappeared into the closets for the next two years as well.
Arjen's fans will still have the wonderfull memories of the first match against Serbia & Montenegro in which Arjen managed to score at full speed after an assist by Robin van Persie.
Other things that will be remembered are Arjen being elected Man of the Match twice, a newborn deer
being named after him and being hit on the shoulders by an opponents' shoe.
Marco van Basten's team has gotten a valuable experience. On the 2nd of September the team will already start the qualification rounds for the European Championship in 2008 in and against Luxembourg.
According to the website of the Parool, Van Basten wanted to 'remain sensible' and kept Arjen on the bench, as this Sunday's match is much more important.
Van Basten: "We have not taken into account the group results of Mexico and Portugal earlier that day. The issue of bringing Arjen in anyhow, was not a major concern. We have to remain
sensible.
Sunday's match is more important than this one. We had already qualified, so we did not have to force anything. From now on we will play another four matches, that is, if things go well. We cannot afford to make any mistakes then, as that will result in our elimination.
Everyone has been able to see how strong Argentina is. They are great opponents and the top contenders in the world. They kept us busy, but we have offered good competition and managed to keep a clean sheet. We are satisfied with the ultimate result."
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Last week we reported that a newborn deer was named after Arjen by the owners of the players' hotel in Hinterzarten on the website.
Beforehand James Scott Newman, Parkhotel Adler's manager, had agreed with Marco van Basten to name the deer after the Orange player that would score a goal at the World Championship first.
According to Newman the coach's first words after he got back from the match were: "Now you have a name for the animal".
Arjen was the
lucky one who's name was used, with his goal against Serbia & Montenegro. After that it was really tough to take a picture of little deer Arjen. The young animal is still pretty shy and hides away far from all the interested people at the small hotel zoo.
Last Sunday it was Arjen himself who came to have a look at the deer together with his girlfriend Bernadien during the day off. They were lucky to be able to
take some pictures featuring 'Arjen' and his mom.
Bernadien: "We did not want to come any closer, because we were afraid the mother would otherwise leave the young animal."
According to Bernadien and Arjen it is not sure yet if the little deer is male or female. Arjen: "If it turns out to be a female deer we decided it would be named Bernadien."
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