It’s a heady cocktail, goes the cliché. But on the books of the former Dutch West Indies Company, Curacao, with less than 2 lakh people, has won the World Cup for the first time. Curaçao will now forever be known for its heroic football team.
But before that, the Blue Curaçao Liqueur that was used to infuse the special Blue Mixer Blue Lagoon or Blue Hawaii was originally a bitter orange that only this unique island loved. Significantly, the skin of the Laraha citrus fruit was of deep value. The flesh is too bitter and inedible, but the peel can be dried for an aromatic orange oil extracted by the Dutch distillery Boles. This led to the liqueur, called the ‘cream of the sky’.
Blue color added – just for effect. This is probably the first time you have heard the name Curacao.
The football team had distinct Dutch connections. It is coached by Holland’s Dick Advocaat now at the age of 78 in his 28th international football team. He has trained some of the best football fans in life. Before Curacao, he led Iraq, the Netherlands, Serbia. Best teams from Holland, Russia, Belgium, Turkey, Serbia and Russia besides Russia, Belgium, South Korea, UAE. This 2006 edition features the oldest coaches in the Balkans.
The team with brothers Juninho and Leandro Bacuna, Chong and Martha hails from the Caribbean islands off the coast of Venezuela – the youngest participants. Tahiti Chong, who remains at Manchester United, has the best hairstyle at the World Cup.
After the Dutch Antilles dissolved in 2010, Advocaat, who twice coached the Netherlands, has extended his stewardship component to the country, becoming the newest nation as well.
The orange liquid, then dyed blue, is called papiamentu, in the language spoken. Patrick Kluivert, Guus Hiddink have all served this small ambitious nation. Their second lowest rank is 82 after New Zealand’s 85. Willemstad is the capital and its distilleries feel lively. KKR National Anthem – Chobolobo.
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The lawyer took a break from his tenure to take care of his sick daughter and then returned. He was later quoted by Sky Sports as saying, “I’ve always said that family comes before football. So it’s a natural decision. But it doesn’t change the fact that I will miss Curaçao, its people and my teammates a lot.
“Making the smallest country in the world qualify for the World Cup is one of the highlights of my career. I am proud of my players, staff and board members who believe in us.”
Curaçao beat Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Aruba, Saint Lucia and Haiti 5-1. However, lost friendships with China, Australia and Scotland.
Advocate returned to the Scotland friendly in May and told the Guardian, “I don’t care because I don’t feel that age. I’ve definitely changed a lot. There are things that are normally not possible under me that are possible. It’s to do with the team – they’re paid fans and you can see that. You have to change at times. You can’t change at the highest level, obviously every person knows that. What they have to do, but we did what we had to do to be part of this World Cup.
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Of their underdog status, he added to the Guardian, “We’re not favourites, we know that when we start. But the underdogs can be surprised. You can go (to the next round) with two or three points today.”
Germany may find it a bit difficult in their opening match.
Beyond football, blue Curaçao has something to laugh about with advocat (an alcoholic Dutch alcohol made from egg yolk, sugar, brandy, vanilla and nutmeg).
Different websites claim that Advocate is a fun booster.