Penn State students and fans of the 2010 FIFA World Cup watched from different areas both on and off campus as Spain claimed a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final match of the tournament on Sunday.
Off campus, groups of supporters from both countries crowded into Bill Pickle's Tap Room, 106 S. Allen St., to watch the World Cup final, complete with soccer jerseys, large flags, and even a few vuvuzelas.
Before the game started, the bar was close to capacity and slowly separating into two different camps: a group of orange-clad fans by the open windows up front and a collection of red shirts in the center of the bar.
The conclusion of the Netherlands' national anthem drew cheers and applause, but was trumped by the vuvuzela and clapping following Spain's national anthem. The early minutes of the game drew collective gasps from each side as both national teams battled and added to the community atmosphere of the event.
"It's the best place to be to watch the game," said Sven Lafebre.
Lafebre and Carlijn van Nieuwland, both from the Netherlands, stood out in the group of orange thanks to the large Danish flag draped over van Nieuwland's shoulders. The two were among the many Dutch fans at the bar who arrived early to get seats and show support for the Netherlands.
"I did not expect us to get this far," Lafebre said.
Matt Vodzak, Class of 2007, and John Sampogna, also at Pickle's, both questioned how many of the Netherlands supporters in the bar were actually cheering for the country.
"I wonder how many people were wearing that a week ago," Vodzak said about the mass of orange shirts.
Watching the World Cup at Pickle's proved to be both entertainment and a good distraction for the men, who arrived before the game began.
"Pickle's is one of our favorite spots," Sampogna said. "And it's a break from studying for the bar [examination]."
Across the room, Paola Rodriguez Hidalgo and Amparo Soler Martinez were a part of the crowd cheering for Spain.
Hidalgo and Martinez, both from Spain, watched all of their country's soccer matches at Pickle's, Hidalgo said.
"And we call it fútbol," Hidalgo said.
Fans of the World Cup were able to catch the game on campus as well. One of the most popular destinations was the HUB-Robeson Center for one simple reason, which Justin Birzon (freshmen-business) summed up in a single word: air-conditioning.
Students and parents relaxing in the HUB lounge were able to watch the World Cup on the large television screen, but Birzon and Colin Schuyler (freshmen-division of undergraduate studies) and a much-larger crowd filled the HUB Auditorium to catch the game on the big screen.
Birzon and Schuyler were among a large group of fans that left the heat of the dorms to relax in the HUB and watch the final. The two roommates were each decked out in full orange attire in clear support of the Netherlands.
"I've been going for them and the U.S.," Schuyler said.
Oscar Paras (senior-supply chain management) skipped orange and red and decided to wear a green t-shirt in support of his original team, which was eliminated earlier in the tournament.
"I was rooting for Mexico and I'm still showing my pride," Paras said.
Paras watched the first half of the game on campus in the HUB Auditorium, and thought that the HUB showing the World Cup final for students was a good idea, Paras said.
"It was fun," Paras said. "But they need to put the volume up."
