Having a great time going to games in Wellington and watching matches across NZ and Australia (co- hosts) on tv.
Our first game was Sweden v Italy. Trained it in from my old commuting railway station near home, Takapu Road - 20 minutes to the city from here. I have my modified glasses on, left lens removed while the new trifocal insert settles in. Looks a tad disconcerting.
Sweden decisive winners 5-0 in that game.
Yesterday we trained in for a quarter final: Spain v Netherlands. Train was packed with football people and we went in hours early. Loads of kids taking the day off school, and loads of Dutch supporters in orange. NZ has a large Dutch population. The turnout in both countries has been amazing with record crowds at all venues, even surpassing All Black crowd numbers in NZ, which is a surprise for many.
Headed into the city and Where's Charlie for delicious Vietnamese lunch and then back to the stadium.
Central railway station is next to Wellington stadium. You exit train and walk up a ramp and bingo, you're there.
From the concourse walking in we looked east across the harbour's stack of logs to hills with a dusting of snow. Picturesque and chilly.
Up in the gods in row Y, but actually a pretty good view. So nice to see the run of play. Spain all over the Netherlands for most of the game. Lots of shots and lovely short fast accurate passing. Almost full time with Spain at 1-0 then a scorcher from the Dutch to make it 1-1 and into extra time. We had a great view of that goal from row Y.
Final score, Spain 2-1. Excellent game, lots of energy on the field and good humour in the crowds.
Train home was even more packed and we got home late after a local bit of dinner. Plum was in one of the kennels for the day and night as we knew it was a full day out.
Watched Sweden dismiss Japan in another really engaging game and fell into bed about midnight.
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