A quarter-final in shades of orange (and a bit of red)
Following the huge success of our Batucada-led fan parade for the Netherlands team a couple of weeks ago, the Dutch Embassy asked us to do it all again for their quarter-final clash with Spain. Of course we said yes! What fun!
It was a beautiful sunny day, and the sky was the most intense midwinter blue you’ve ever seen. It was hot! And the crowds of fans carrying orange flags ready to parade along the waterfront were, if anything, even larger than last time.
Once again we made it onto the ONE News bulletin (go us!) and a quite magnificent time was had by all.
Wellington Batucada leading the Netherlands fan parade at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Netherlands vs Spain
Video by ONE News
We’ve found one or two quite good photos from around the motu, including this next one, which we’re entitling “Spot the difference” or maybe “Odd man out”.
Yeah that guy in the colours of Spain, right in the middle of the photo, is our Spanish caixa player Diego who, quite rightly, felt he needed to support his team in red while surrounded by the rest of us in orange.
Wellington Batucada is a very multicultural band, with drummers and dancers from all over the world, so of course we understood. We’d had a similar situation in the first Netherlands fan parade, when our American dancer Anna showed up dressed as a not-so-stealth Statue of Liberty amongst the tangerine dreams.
We get it – and that’s one of the great things about this Women’s World Cup – it’s bringing people together in the best way.
The final score wasn’t the one the Netherlands fans had hoped for – Spain won the match 2-1 – but there’s a certain red-shirted caixa player on our team who was more than happy with the result…
Wellington Batucada leading the Netherlands fan parade at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Netherlands vs Spain
Video by Therese Grobler
Photo gallery
Photos by Alison Green, Amanda Hill, Gina King, Jet Herman, Kara Nation, oranjeleeuwinnen and Unknown. Click on any thumbnail to see the larger version:
