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Kuyt the most popular in Australia

October 8th, 2009 | By: Jan | 18 Comments »

Australia is excited with Oranje’s presence Down Under. The friendly against the Socceroos coming Saturday is close to being sold out (45.000 tickets sold). It doesn’t happen too often in Oz, the visit of a top nation.

The Aussies praise Oranje for coming down mid-season. Most nations only want to play Australia in Europe.

The Australian internationals will stay in their home counttry for the important qualification game on Wednesday against Oman for the Asia Cup. Normally however, Pim Verbeek uses domestic players for these types of games.

Dirk Kuyt is by far the most popular player of Oranje. The fans all wanted to meet him for photo’s. He was being treated for his ankle in the stadium and had to be called out to meet his fans. The Liverpool Duracell-man will play on Saturday though.

The open training did attract a lot of people, mainly young football fans and heaps of Dutch immigrants, so of which had a hard time speaking Dutch before the Dutch tv-cameras.

Ryan Babel is the only played who visited Australia before. “Some years back, Ajax A juniors went to a tournament here. Danny Blind was our coach back then but we traveled sardines-class. A totally different experience.”

The players do not seem to be bothered by jetlag. Huntelaar: “No, I feel great. We came here in the evening and I had a massive night’s sleep. And the next day I was fine.” Raf van der Vaart: “Those business class beds really helped to be able to stay on course.”.

Tags: Babel, Group C, Kuyt, Oranje, Socceroos, Sydney, Vaart

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Comments

By Michel-Olivier | October 8th, 2009 at 6:18 pm

i bet they fly airbus a380 to australia

Posted from United States

By Mohamed | October 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

good luck michel

By Mario | October 8th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Kuyt the most popular???. Can´t get it!

By Lucas | October 8th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

I think the Aussies appreciate his hard graft and work ethic (Aussies play with similar mentality). Surely without meaning to put the guy down thats the only plausible explanation!?

Posted from United Kingdom

By ferenc | October 9th, 2009 at 2:39 am

i think they like him because he’s from the pl and plays for one of the best english team and is an important piece in his team. van persie is absent,babel is a sub,van der sar is no more in oranje.

Posted from Hungary

By goose | October 9th, 2009 at 3:51 am

Kuyt the most popular in Holland

work hard, dont act like a primadonna and you will be loved in Holland

Posted from Netherlands

By Jan | October 9th, 2009 at 3:55 am

And particularly in Australia, where they despise prima donna’s. Liverpool is popular here too lads. If Ooijer played for the Reds he would have been the most popular bloke.

By Carlos | October 9th, 2009 at 4:16 am

Carlos is just waiting to get to the stadium tomorrow nite. Jan dont you dare lose the tickets !!!

By Tiju | October 9th, 2009 at 4:32 am

Coz liverpool has more fans may be second to ManU and Arsenal.like ferenc said most peoples in australia,Newzealand,india,indonesia,watch BPL not eredivise or bundesliga…so its obvious that kuyt gets more popularity in the absence of Edwin and Vanpersie…..No surprise…that is what the common people.
by the by
To Carlos ,jan and Co(whoever watching the match in the stadion)enjoy guys….have a nice day …….

Posted from India

By Mohamed | October 9th, 2009 at 4:35 am

@ carlos , Ha ha

By Jan | October 9th, 2009 at 6:53 am

Carlos… I’m printing them as we speak!!!

Are you wearing Orange tomorrow ?

By Jan | October 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am

It seems that Loovens won’t be able to play. His calf injury is worse that expected. Kuyt has recovered and Sneijder is in the process of ditching his flu attack. We’ll probably see Boulah back in orange, with Hunter up front.

De Zeeuw and Engelaar as holding midfielders.

By susanne | October 9th, 2009 at 7:22 am

I read that Heitinga thinks Boulah will play RB and Heitinga himself CB. I think Bert is far more likely to do the opposite.

Posted from Netherlands

By Jeroen | October 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am

Heitinga will go right back, Boulah center. I agree with Heitinga.

Posted from Netherlands

By Carlos | October 9th, 2009 at 8:12 am

Jan – my special 1998 Oranje shirt – Oranje Scarf – Aussie hat !!!!

By Igor | October 9th, 2009 at 8:41 am

There’s also another reason why Liverpool and therefore Kuyt is loved is Oz, don’t forget that Harry Kewel played for pool which probably attracted many aussies to watch their countryman’s exploits while playing for ‘pool (whenever he wasn’t injured that is). Add to that Kuyt no nonsense, hard working attitude and you’ve got a winner. I can undestand why australians would have trouble relating to a “star” like the handbag divaldo when they are used to watching rugby players shrug off much harder tackles with a grin.

Posted from Canada

By Sol | October 9th, 2009 at 9:53 am

Sneijder’s flu was probably caused by the airplane airco. Next time bring salmiak candy (drop) and warmer clothes for in the plane.

At least that’s when I always get flulike symptoms (combined with the swelling of sore muscles due to the high altitude and then the cold air on your muscles can make them pretty sore and make you feel as if you had the flu).

Posted from Netherlands

By Rob | October 9th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

It really shocks me that Loovens continues to be a part of the Dutch set up.

Posted from United Kingdom

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