It wasn’t right here but. The Czechs gained the World Hockey Championship at residence, and Prague’s Previous City Sq. was utterly packed to look at. Those that wished to be within the first row needed to come eight hours earlier than the match. However they do not remorse something. “It is an expertise of a lifetime. We believed it will work out,” the followers agree.
Staroměstské náměstí pays for a spot the place you do not meet too many Czechs. On Sunday night, the historic house was coated in white and pink. “Czechs! Czechs! Czechs!” the sq. was buzzing hours earlier than the match. And the Asian vacationers within the gardens of native eating places weren’t shocked.
Who thought that it will be sufficient for him to return half an hour earlier than, he stumbled. Each place the place you may see at the least somewhat was full. On the similar time, an increasing number of individuals flocked to the display screen situated by the tower of the Previous City Corridor from close by bus stops.
Some individuals had been making an attempt to get a view of the large-screen display screen from the opposite facet of the sq. by means of the winding streets within the neighborhood, however on the best way they handed by oncoming individuals who had been making an attempt to do the identical factor from the opposite course. Others gave up on the sight of the packed house. “Nicely, I suppose we’re going residence,” the daddy of the household with flags on his face instructed the unhappy youngsters. “The pubs will most likely be full by now, huh?” one other fan requested his pal.
Quite the opposite, apparently the most effective seats had been grabbed by a bunch of middle-aged associates. And he or she deserved them. “We have been right here for eight hours,” says Jarda from Nymburk, whose pink jersey has dried on his physique following the rain, earlier than the beginning of the match. Earlier than the match, a downpour swept over the sq., however it didn’t deter the group.
“So we received moist, properly. However this must be skilled. An expertise for a lifetime, the ultimate at residence,” provides his pal Petr. The result’s three to 1 for the Czech Republic. He isn’t afraid of queues for beer. “See that massive bag down there? Nicely, there you’ve the reply,” says one of many associates amused.
Jarda from Nymburk arrived at Prague’s Previous City Sq. already eight hours earlier than the ultimate match. | Photograph: Jakub Plíhal
After the rain, Tereza Dostálíková and her two ten-year-old youngsters, Anička and Hynk, additionally dried off within the first row. “It was raining, however we stayed right here, we did not go to cover. We do not have raincoats. I am going actually onerous. We’re loyal followers,” declares Tereza. “We wished the youngsters to be within the entrance, so they would not be within the maddened crowd and see one thing,” she explains, explaining why she got here with the youngsters so early. She additionally believes within the gold of the Czechs.
“We’re right here primarily due to our daughter,” laughs Miroslav Hlavnička, who arrived from Tábor along with his spouse and teenage Andrea. “We have been right here since three and we return once more at evening,” he provides. “Extra within the morning,” his delighted daughter corrects him.
Tereza Dostálíková with youngsters Anička and Hynk. | Photograph: Jakub Plíhal
Alternatively, latecomers had been frantically on the lookout for locations. “The statue over there bothers me somewhat,” says one of many followers, half of whose view is blocked by the massive Jan Hus. Some attempt to watch the hockey by means of the cracks within the fence behind the stage. The winners of the day are the individuals who benefit from the spectacle from the home windows of close by homes.
The moderator of the occasion referred to as on the followers to fill the sq. like no different occasion in historical past. “In the course of the execution of 27 Czech gents, there have been heads on heads right here,” he jokingly factors out. And he encourages individuals to cheer a lot that even the hockey gamers within the O2 area, a couple of kilometers away, can hear them.
And it labored. The sq. didn’t expertise such tremors as in the course of the chanting “Who does not leap is just not a Czech” for a very long time. The dedication of the Czech followers didn’t deliver solely good issues with them. “Physician,” is heard from the gang following the primary third. Spectators responsibly make means for a member of safety, who following a couple of seconds carries the unconscious lady over the railing and fingers her over to the medical doctors standing by the ambulance subsequent to St. Nicholas Church. At different instances, he’s much less selective in kicking drunken and unruly followers out of the venue.
Within the third interval, enthusiastic chanting was first changed by quieter pressure. However David Pastrňák broke all that along with his aim, which was adopted by an explosion of enthusiasm, which was maybe the final time Petr Svoboda evoked within the sq. within the remaining of the Olympic Video games in Nagano 26 years in the past. After David Kämpf’s aim a couple of minutes later, it was clear.
“I knew it, I knew it,” shouts Jarda from Nymburk following the ultimate whistle of the followers’ enthusiasm, who actually doesn’t remorse getting moist on the sq. a couple of hours in the past. “The kids have been promised that they do not must go to high school tomorrow. And I’ve the followingnoon, so possibly I am going to sleep in too,” provides Tereza Dostáliková with a large smile.
