England v Italy...part 3

After the trip to Oosterbeek to pay our respects we made our way back to Arnhem in such of a drink! and after the experience of last time we decided not to visit the bar that employs 3 lesbian feminists, so, we went next door where they were more than helpful and very polite.

This little row of bars were not full but had a great deal more English than it did on Monday which is what we had expected, one round of drinks later and Debz caught glimpse of an ice cream been served to someone else and decided she wanted one. So we nicked an Ice Cream menu and she was like a kid in a toy shop. Eventually after much deliberation she chose to have an ice cream entitled "The Kidz Crazy"...

The only problem was that on the little picture it showed Smarties, however in a twist much a like an Eastenders plot, there was no Smarties, in fact she got a lollipop...dun dun duuuurrrrnn.

From the bar in the center of Arnhem we decided we'd head through the center in the direction of the iron bridge (another famous part of WW2's battle "Market Garden")

On the way, in the main square infront of the church there was a UEFA event taking place which had a small 4 or 5 a side match taking place and a few other related events, as pictures below show;

Then from here we cut down one of the streets onto the riverside in order to walk along to the iron bridge. Down this street I spotted a bar with a name that, well, it just made me laugh!

Sadly though this bar was closed, so we could not drink at cafe smaak.

From here then we walked down to the riverside and saw the iron bridge and headed off in its direction.

For the full story of how Market Garden unfolded and was won and lost then go on to;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden

So we walked over the bridge down the bike lane even though there was probably more mad moped drivers flying down there bipping there horns at us! Then as we were walking over there was a small car crash that made us jump! not off the bridge I must add.

It was a much longer walk round than the other way, but one we were glad we'd done.

So we got off the bridge and cut across a field path to head back onto the main road to the stadium. After what had been a scorcher of a day (what the weatherman had not predicted) the clouds were starting to come over and by the time we got to the ground the sun had taken his hat off and was no longer out to play.

With Pete needing to relieve himself and Debz and I both peckish we headed into the McDonalds next to the ground (more fast food i know.) Even at this early stage it was evident there was to be a much greater quantity of England fans for this match. So after our varied needs were sorted we went for a wander around the ground mainly to go round the back to see where the pitch goes when they have slid it out of the stadium;

From here we walked back around to the front of the ground where there was mini 1 0n 1 game taking place, which played some music, one of which was "Smack that" by Akon (i think) which when we heard we just looked at each other and laughed, so the new song of this break is "Smaak dat" in honour of the cafe.

Not long afterwards the team coaches arrived, the England team when they arrived were all transfixed with what they were watching on the tele, manier jokes were cast as to what they were watching, if they were watching anything at all! They got off the bus in the same grumpy old man style that the first team do, no time to acknowledge the fans who were there supporting them, of which considering it was only the u21's there was alot!

So after seeing that bunch of miserable people! we made our arrangements with Pete and headed into the ground just like last time, and just like last time when we walked in the players were out on the pitch

We also spotted Pete with his flag again!

So while we waited for the game to get going we got some food and drink, and another GelderCard! though we thought ahead this time and got one for the rest of the matches.

As the England goalkeepers came out to warm up, i looked up to notice the roof closing over.

So time roled on and it was very soon time for the teams to emerge from the tunnel, the ground had 3 stands not far off full with only the stand opposite looking empty. The teams emerged from the tunnel greeted by a rousing reception by both us, the italians and the dutch.

For the first 26mins England were amazing, we dominated, cut them apart and should of led by a larger margin than the 2 goals we did, with Steven Taylor having a bullet header excellently saved by the Azzuri keeper, Leroy Lita missed an absolutely amazingly easy chance then moments later he smashed the underside of the bar...then Davey Nugent got us going with a neat flicked header to make it 1-0 in the 24th min, then 2 mins later Nugent played the ball through to Lita, I'll admit i thought he'd miss after his form earlier miss, but he stuck it away, 2-0 up and looking simply awesome.

Though quite what went tits up I dont know, but the Azzuri got more and more into the match and they deservedly levelled thanks to a header from there captain and Juventus defender Chiellini. They spent the remainder of the half been the dominant force in the match. Though one of the Italians should of seen red for an x rated 2 footed challenge on Leighton Baines (even the Dutch people agreed).

Half time came, and i was relieved as it meant Psycho could get them in there and gee them up again like he did before the game.

In the interval the Italians made 2 changes including bringing on former Man Utd striker Guiseppe Rossi who turned out to be an influential player for them in the second half. They peppered Scott Carsons goal with shots, before he inevitable occured...2-2.

The question after 26mins was how many could we win by, now it was can we hang on. They continued been the dominant force though we had a few good breaks with Ashley Young again impressing and Reo-Coker also missing a good chance.

Then came the moment when the game from our point was dead in the water, Psycho replaced the hard working Nugent with Peter Whittingham, a defensive move that just said, im happy with a point.

Anyway, with 5mins left on the clock we made our exit in order to get back to the station to catch the 2258 train to Amsterdam Centraal, fortunaely this time there were no delays and we headed straight there. We arrived at Amsterdam at about 0010 and Pete made his way to his hotel in the center where as we headed to our next train back to Schipol. Where on the train some experienced England fans told us stories of there trips to 'Dam in the past.

By 0045 we were back in Schipol and on our way to que for the taxi, something we regret, as the taxi driver charged us 45 euros and was a complete and utter f&cking nutcase, he drove at about 150km pr hr, went the extreme longway in order to justify the ludicrous charge and then dropped us off at the hotel before tyre screeching off! so as you can imagine, that tosser didn't get a tip!

Oh well...next time we'll walk the 3km back to the hotel.

Next up...Sunday night...Italy vs Czech Republic, hopefully the Czech's will do us a favour and take at least a point.