The old Calvinist caricature of the Hollander has long been laid to rest…but at the same time every Dutchman fears it may be right, that we are victims of a faith that forbids indulgence in the things that make life worth living – a stupefying football win, for instance.

“The 32-year wait is over.” “This is how to do it.” Dutch newspapers had no problem writing headlines after Holland’s semi-final victory over Uruguay. The facts made it easy.

Small country reaches third World Cup final, after years of priceless football.

Squad sails through South Africa 2010 with six wins in a row, after a series of eight straight wins in the qualifying rounds.

Team wins thanks to a variety of qualities, luck not the least among them.

Back to Tuesday evening. As the game ends and the Mongolian hordes start pillaging my town (my two-year old startled in his bed by the heavy-duty fireworks cracking over our roof), my friends and I discuss what we just have witnessed.

A win, sure, and some great goals too, but what kind of win? Holland had a lot of trouble with Uruguay until the very last moment. Which makes this game yet another one we don’t feel at ease with. We are glad it’s over, this ordeal of nerves, near heart failure and sweaty palms.

So what kind of game did we witness? …We have seen a squad that lays down the law on the opposition, a squad in disarray and a squad with all the good fortune in the world. How do we think and feel about that, this bunch of couch-coaches from provincial Alkmaar (of AZ fame)?
………

Three beers later a friend comes up with a good theory. We play like Calvinists, he says, and this frightens us.

READ MORE: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/jul/07/world-cup-2010-holland-letter