As the Netherlands and Spain clashed in the final for the ultimate World Cup glory, football fans in the respective capital cities celebrated in their own unique way, writes Christian Fraser in Amsterdam and Sarah Rainsford in Madrid.
In Amsterdam, the flashpoint for World Cup enthusiasm was Museum Square, where one of the biggest screens in Europe was erected for the fans.
In Madrid, an estimated 300,000 people formed a sea of red and yellow as they surged along Paseo de Recoletos boulevard to watch the final on giant screens.
The celebrations at the final whistle were easily the biggest ever held in living memory in Spain.

Spain reached the World Cup final for the first time after a second-half header from Carles Puyol secured a narrow victory over Germany after an intriguing match in Durban.
Vicente del Bosque’s side won their fourth straight game 1-0 and will now play the Netherlands in Sunday’s final at Soccer City.
Spain deserved their victory after controlling huge periods of the match, but once again it was far from a vintage performance.
Del Bosque’s team improved on their scrappy performance against Paraguay in the previous round but still struggled to carve out clear openings.
The winning goal came when Puyol showed great determination to atone for a poor first-half miss by heading home Xavi’s corner with 17 minutes remaining.
The Euro 2008 champions, who defeated Germany 1-0 in the final of that competition, should have scored a second after striking with the sort of counter-attack that had been a trademark of their opponents’ play in this competition, but Pedro failed to pick out a completely unmarked Fernando Torres.
Germany had invited pressure by adopting an increasingly deep defensive line as the match wore on – and may regret not taking the game to their opponents more while it remained goalless.
Joachim Loew’s team scored four against both England and Argentina in their previous games and had illuminated the competition with their bold play.
But they had few opportunities to strike on the counter against Spain and so Germany taste defeat at the semi-final stage for the second successive World Cup.
Spain coach Del Bosque chose Wednesday’s tie to drop the out-of-form Torres, drafting in Barcelona’s lively young forward Pedro and deploying David Villa as a lone striker.
And while Del Bosque’s team certainly looked comfortable as they worked the ball around midfield, Germany showed excellent shape and discipline, and were rarely dragged out of position.
Spain did occasionally pick holes in the German defensive structure, with Pedro playing in Villa only for keeper Manuel Neuer to deny him after only five minutes.
Puyol headed over from a firm Andres Iniesta cross, wasting an excellent chance, while a raking cross-field pass from Xabi Alonso found Sergio Ramos in space, only for the Real Madrid full-back to drill his ambitious shot wide.
Germany did not have the opportunity to launch a counter attack until the 22nd minute, but that broke down after a miscommunication between Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski.
Loew’s team looked increasingly threatening as the half wore on and had what initially appeared to be a strong penalty appeal in injury-time, after Ozil went down under a clumsy challenge from Ramos.
Ozil was certainly in a very threatening position after collecting a pass from Miroslav Klose and looked to be fouled, but replays suggested the initial contact had been made outside the area.
The start of the second half was a repeat of the first in that Spain passed and probed – but this time they started to seriously threaten Neuer’s goal.
Alonso twice shot wide from distance, as did Villa with a low effort he tried to curl across goal, but the impressive Pedro did force a sharp save from Neuer.
Germany were dropping ever deeper and would have fallen behind but for two near misses. The first saw Villa come within inches of converting a low Iniesta cross, while Ramos was likewise agonisingly close to converting from Alonso’s angled pass.
Loew brought on Marcell Jansen and Toni Kroos for Jerome Boateng and Trochowski as he tried to change the game in his team’s favour.
And Kroos forced a save after a deep cross from Podolski, but shortly afterwards Puyol struck and Spain were able to close out the match to seal their place in the final and ensure that the World Cup will have a first-time winner in 2010.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has drawn up a plan to stop Netherlands forward Arjen Robben in their World Cup semi-final in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Sebastian Abreu, hero of the shoot-out win over Ghana, said: “Tabarez has been talking to us about Robben and how to stop a player like him.
“But it’s always different when you are on the field.
“So we know how to do it but whether the actual execution actually comes off is another thing.”
A hamstring injury meant Bayern Munich winger Robben did not start a game for the Dutch at the tournament in South Africa until the second round win over Slovakia.
However, he is expected to be the key man as Bert van Marwijk’s side look to achieve a first World Cup triumph for the Netherlands.
Botafogo striker Abreu has been a crucial factor for the South Americans, having scored the goal that sealed Uruguay’s qualification for the finals.
He then audaciously chipped the crucial penalty straight down the centre to hand them a 4-2 win in their quarter-final shoot-out against Ghana.
It gave Uruguay their first semi-final place since 1970 but the towering striker said their experienced coach is making sure they do not rest on their laurels.
“Tabarez has asked us to concentrate fully, not just in the matches, but also in training,” added Abreu. “He is very satisfied with our work.
“Looking at the Dutch, we have watched a lot of videos on their team because we don’t know too much about them.
“The Netherlands and Uruguay play very similar football but they have very good potential in their attack, with very clever players like [Wesley] Sneijder and Robben.”
Uruguay has a proud World Cup history, having been the first hosts and twice winning the competition – one of only five countries with multiple victories.
But since finishing fourth in 1970, Uruguay have failed to go past the second round stage in four World Cup finals appearances.
Of the four sides left in the competition, they are considered to be the outsiders but Tabarez is daring to dream about returning home as world champions.
“We are among the four best teams at this World Cup,” he stated. “This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa.
“I don’t know what would happen if we were to achieve what that team achieved back in 1950 [when they beat Brazil in the final]. We still hold those champions as idols.”
To do so Uruguay will have to get past a Dutch side criticised for an unambitious style of play but who had a perfect record in their eight World Cup qualifying games and have continued that run by winning all five matches in South Africa.
Uruguay will also have to do so without striker Luis Suarez, who has spent the last three years terrorising Dutch domestic defences with Ajax but is banned for the semi-final – as is defender Jorge Fucile.
On the bright side, defender Diego Godin, who missed the match against Ghana with a thigh injury, should be available.
In Suarez’s absence, Diego Forlan, who hit the equaliser against Ghana for his third goal of the tournament, will shoulder much of his nation’s weighty expectations.

Germany tore Argentina apart to book their place in the semi-finals and, for now at least, end Diego Maradona’s dream of winning the World Cup as coach to go with his victory as captain in 1986.
Inspired by Bastian Schweinsteiger and two-goal hero Miroslav Klose, Joachim Loew’s side scored four times for the third game at this tournament in what was a devastating attacking display.
Klose found the net only three times in the Bundesliga all season in a miserable campaign for Bayern Munich but he has now beaten that tally at this tournament, as well as moving to within a goal of Ronaldo, who with 15 goals, is the all-time highest scorer at World Cup finals.
After Thomas Mueller’s early header, Germany coped with everything Argentina could throw at them before finishing off Maradona’s men with a lethal late burst.
Following Brazil’s self-destruction against the Dutch on Friday, Germany became the latest European team to see off a highly fancied South American side, and they move into the last four looking in good shape to become world champions for the first time since 1990.
At times this win was reminiscent of the way Germany had ripped through England’s backline in the second round a week ago, with Argentina caught out by their speed and incisiveness on the counter-attack as they chased the game.
The only cloud on Germany’s horizon is that the impressive Mueller picked up a booking that means he will miss the last-four clash with Paraguay or Spain, but Loew still has much to savour from this match.
Mueller opened the scoring after only three minutes when Schweinsteiger swung in a free-kick from the left and he escaped the Argentina defence to beat Sergio Romero with a downward header that the keeper got a leg to but could not keep out.
Klose, who also won his 100th cap for Germany, should have made it 2-0 when Mueller broke into the area down the right and squared for him in front of goal. But he fired wastefully over, not that it appeared to matter much at that point.
With Lionel Messi finding it difficult to impose himself on the game thanks to the close attention of Schweinsteiger, Argentina’s response was largely limited to shots from distance.
They did improve as half-time approached and Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain both forced Manuel Neuer into low saves, but Germany continued to threaten on the break.
Only after the interval did Argentina manage a spell of sustained pressure, and they threatened almost immediately when Di Maria let fly from outside the box and saw the ball fizz narrowly wide.
For a good 20 minutes, Maradona’s men dominated possession and Carlos Tevez had a shot blocked superbly blocked by Per Mertesacker while Germany keeper Neuer was kept busy as shots peppered his goal.
But, after wave after wave of Argentina attacks had been frustrated, Loew’s side hit back with a lethal sucker-punch to seal victory with two near-identical goals in quick succession.
First, Podolski burst into the box down the left and squared to give Klose the easiest of tap-ins to make it 2-0, with the striker walking the ball over the line.
Then, with Argentina still rocking, Schweinsteiger weaved his way down the same flank and crossed for Arne Freidrich to bundle the ball in at the near post.
The game was up for the South American side, and neither the jaded Messi on the pitch nor Maradona off it could lift them for any sort of belated response.
Fittingly, the final word went to Klose, who volleyed home Germany’s fourth from Mesut Oezil’s cross in the last minute – his 14th World Cup goal – after the imperious Schweinsteiger had brought the ball forward again.

David Villa snatched a late winner to book Spain’s first appearance in a World Cup semi-final as they beat Paraguay in a largely disappointing quarter-final tie that nonetheless boasted moments of incredible drama.
Villa’s goal after 82 minutes – his fifth of the tournament- struck one post, rolled across the goal-line and hit the other, before finally nestling in the net and came seconds after substitute Pedro had also hit the woodwork.
It was heartbreaking for a Paraguay side that had never reached the quarter-final stage before, and who earlier wasted a superb chance to take the lead when Oscar Cardozo’s spot-kick was saved by Iker Casillas.
That came after 57 minutes – and before the tie reached the hour mark Spain had also been awarded a penalty by referee Carlos Batres.
In a truly remarkable passage of play, Xabi Alonso scored his first effort but the retake, which came because Spanish players encroached into the area, was saved.
Goalkeeper Justo Villar then appeared to foul Cesc Fabregas as he scrambled to collect the rebound but a third penalty award was not forthcoming, while Sergio Ramos pounced on the loose ball but his shot was blocked on the line.
In truth, it was a brief flurry of excitement that was largely out of kilter during a game that saw relatively few other opportunities.
Spain may have reached a World Cup semi-final for the first time – their fourth place in 1950 was after a round-robin stage – but they will surely need to improve if they are to defeat in-form Germany in Durban on Wednesday.
Their famed passing game was largely absent, while the out-of-form Fernando Torres was withdrawn after 56 minutes.
Paraguay started at a decent pace, certainly settling much quicker than Spain, and created some promising openings.
Jonathan Santana forced a saved with a low strike inside 60 seconds, while Spain consistently struggled to deal with crosses from wide areas.
Sunderland-bound Cristian Riveros headed wide, while Antolin Alcaraz and Santana both peeled away from their markers with far too much ease but could not quite make the decisive contact.
Nelson Valdez, one of six changes from the side that defeated Japan in Pretoria, slotted home from close range shortly before the break but the effort was ruled out by a marginal offside decision.
The Borussia Dortmund forward certainly appeared to be onside but there was a doubt over Cardozo, who attempted but failed to head the cross that eventually fell to Valdez.
At one point Spain looked as though they were starting to gain a measure of control in midfield but Paraguay, who would have topped South America’s World Cup qualifying group if they had won their final game, slowed the match down at every opportunity.
Gerardo Martino’s team also worked extremely hard to thwart Spain’s passing game and looked extremely dangerous on the counter, with the lively Valdez wasting a decent position with an atrocious shot just before the interval after a sharp break.
Xavi went close for Spain with one piece of brilliance, deftly flicking the ball up with one touch before shooting on the turn in a manner reminiscent of a goal Thierry Henry once scored for Arsenal.
However, the midfielder’s shot flew narrowly over and it was a slightly disjointed and frustrated Spain that left the field to regroup at the break.
The tie exploded into life with the back-to-back penalties and all the shenanigans that surrounded them.
There was little doubt that Gerard Pique fouled Cardozo for the first when he clung onto the Benfica forward, but the Paraguayan’s subsequent penalty was struck at a good height for Casillas.
From the very next attack Alcaraz was adjudged to have brought down Villa, with Alonso comfortably slotting home first time around.
Replays did suggest referee Batres was correct to order a retake – and the prayers of Valdez, who was on his knees just outside the penalty box, were answered when Alonso saw his effort saved and Spain failed to score.
But there was nothing Valdez could do to prevent the prolific Villa from equalling Emilio Butragueno’s Spanish record of five goals at a World Cup finals, which was set in 1986.
Villar saved from Iniesta shortly after Spain’s goal, but Paraguay did have a chance to equalise late on only for Casillas to block substitute Roque Santa Cruz’s effort.
The Paraguay keeper denied Villa as Spain threatened on the break in the final seconds but a second goal would have been harsh on the South American side, who conceded just twice in their five games in South Africa.

The Netherlands produced a stunning second-half comeback to reach the semi-finals as Brazil’s World Cup imploded in a dramatic game in Port Elizabeth.
After taking an early lead through Robinho’s cool finish, the pre-tournament favourites were pegged back following an awful defensive mix-up early in the second-half and were found wanting in defence again soon afterwards when Wesley Sneijder headed in.
Brazil found themselves in even deeper trouble when Felipe Melo saw red for stamping on Arjen Robben with 17 minutes to go and, although Dunga’s side gave everything in a thrilling finale, they crashed out in the quarter-finals for the second successive tournament.
It is the Netherlands who will go forward to play Uruguay or Ghana in the semi-finals and they have blown this World Cup wide open after putting paid to the idea that South American sides were set to dominate in South Africa.
Of the four teams from that continent in the last eight, Brazil were seen as the most likely to progress – and, for the first 45 minutes at least, it appeared they would not have too many problems in doing so.
The Netherlands have won renown for their defensive discipline in the last few weeks but that was nowhere to be seen when Robinho opened the scoring after 10 minutes.
The Dutch back-line had been forced to re-organise before kick-off when Joris Mathijsen was injured in the warm-up, with Andre Ooijer coming in, and he and fellow centre-back John Heitinga left a huge hole for Robinho to run on to Felipe Melo’s pass and slot home.
Bert van Marwijk’s side, who came into the game on the back of a 23-game unbeaten run, attempted to respond and Dirk Kuyt brought a low save out of Julio Cesar at his near post.
But other than that chance – and a blasted Sneijder free-kick that Julio Cesar also dealt with comfortably – the Netherlands were unable to open up Brazil, who were superbly marshalled at the back by Juan.
Dunga’s side were not exactly in full-flow going forward themselves but they would still have been out of sight at half-time had it not been for Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Stekelenburg brilliantly tipped over Kaka’s curling shot after a neat move down the left involving Robinho and Luis Fabiano and also got a hand to Maicon’s fierce shot after Dani Alves sent him forward on the overlap down the opposite flank.
It seemed Brazil were still in full control but that all changed after the interval when they gifted the Dutch an equaliser that completely changed the course of the game.
Sneijder whipped in a cross from the right after a quick free-kick and Julio Cesar, in trying to punch clear, only succeeded in colliding with Felipe Melo and the ball flicked off his team-mate’s head and flew into the net.
Brazil took time to regain their composure but they remained a threat and Kaka came within inches of restoring their lead when he clipped the ball wide after latching on to Ooijer’s clumsy clearance.
The Dutch, however, sensed a weakness at the heart of the South Americans’ defence and they took full advantage after 68 minutes when another cross caused chaos in the Brazil back-line.
Kuyt flicked on Robben’s corner at the near post and Sneijder headed in, sending the army of Oranje fans at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium wild with elation
From being well on top, Dunga’s side were now chasing the game and their hopes of rescuing their World Cup were dealt a huge blow when Felipe Melo inexplicably stamped on Robben after conceding a free-kick five minutes later.
Despite being a man down, the five-time champions had no choice but to throw men forward, and left huge gaps at the back in the final few minutes.
The closest Brazil came to saving themselves were a succession of Maicon corners, from one of which Lucio had a goalbound shot deflected wide.
But the Netherlands had several chances to add a third goal in final few minutes too, with Sneijder having a shot saved and Klass Jan Huntelaar hesitating when he had the simple task of teeing up Dirk Kuyt from six yards out.

Coach Vicente del Bosque admits Spain are feeling the weight of expectation after edging into the last 16 of the with a fractured 2-1 win over Chile.
World Cup favourites Spain face Portugal on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals in South Africa but have still to click in the tournament.
“There’s a lot of pressure in the World Cup,” said 59-year-old Del Bosque.
“We know what people expect in Spain and we’re trying to give our all. Let’s see what we achieve.”
The former Real Madrid boss added after brilliantly-executed goals from David Villa and fit-again Andres Iniesta proved the difference against 10-man Chile: “The most important thing was to get these three points and qualify.”
Spain were under pressure to ensure progress after a shock opening defeat to Switzerland, but a 2-0 win over Honduras and the victory over Chile meant they eventually finished as winners of Group H.
“We have reacted to a very difficult situation and have done well,” reflected Del Bosque, who warned that Iberian neighbours Portugal would prove difficult opposition up next.
“We know there are no easy games. We want to do well.”
Del Bosque also stressed that Fernando Torres had been replaced after 60 minutes purely as a precaution, and that the Liverpool striker had not suffered a recurrence of the knee injury which caused him to undergo surgery twice in recent months.
“He felt a spot of muscular bother, nothing to do with his knee injury,” the Spain boss stated.
Barcelona’s Iniesta, who returned to the side after missing the Honduras match, agreed with Del Bosque that Spain’s next match would be tricky – although by finishing top the European champions have avoid a last-16 tie with Brazil, the team considered to be their main rivals in South Africa.
“We have a unique opportunity,” Iniesta commented. “The team has demonstrated a good attitude. The draw with Portugal is difficult.”
Defender Joan Capdevila claimed Spain are well equipped for the knockout stages in South Africa after losing their first game of the tournament.
“We did something that was pretty difficult,” Capdevila said. “We’re more united than ever. We have recovered mentally [from Switzerland].”

England finally made their presence felt at the World Cup by securing the win they needed over Slovenia to reach the last 16, and a clash with arch-rivals Germany on Sunday.
Jermain Defoe’s close-range strike midway through the first half was enough to give Fabio Capello’s side the three points they required to avoid an early departure from South Africa and finish second behind the United States in Group C.
And after the misery of Friday’s draw against Algeria in Cape Town and the controversy surrounding former captain John Terry’s comments about the mood in the camp, Capello will have been delighted to see England produce a hugely improved performance under pressure.
The only serious flaw in England’s display was their failure to finish off Slovenia after dominating proceedings.
Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic kept England at bay with fine saves from Defoe and Steven Gerrard – then blocked Terry’s header before turning Wayne Rooney’s shot on to a post after the break.
That led to a needlessly anxious final phase in a game England should have won comfortably.
The delighted reaction of Capello’s players, who gathered in a celebratory huddle at the final whistle told the story – in sharp contrast to the reaction of the Slovenians, who were in despair as news filtered through of Landon Donovan’s late winner for the United States against Algeria.
England’s only mission was to secure the win. Now Capello and his players will hope they can make their mark in South Africa after a faltering start to their campaign.
They needed to make amends for the lifeless performance against Algeria that left them fighting to survive the group phase, and after a nervous opening Capello’s changes took effect.
Defoe’s goal-poaching instincts are in sharp contrast to the honest-but-blunt efforts of Emile Heskey, who he replaced in the starting line-up, and the value of such a marksman was illustrated as the Tottenham striker gave England the lead after 22 minutes.
He reacted sharply to James Milner’s cross from close range, and even though Handanovic got hands on the ball, the effort carried too much power.
England, buoyed by the confidence the goal had given them, went in search of the crucial second and almost got it in a period of intense pressure that followed Defoe’s strike.
Frank Lampard could not turn a loose ball in after Handanovic failed to hold Milner’s cross, but the keeper then did well to deny Defoe and England captain Gerrard in quick succession.
Slovenia had given glimpses of the talent that had taken them to the top of the group after two games with Valter Birsa testing David James, but England had assumed control after the opening exchanges.
Defoe should have doubled England’s advantage moments after the break, but he shot wide from only eight yards after Gareth Barry returned Handanovic’s punch into the box.
England were completely on top, and only a moment of over-elaboration between Rooney and Gerrard cost them an opening they had created superbly.
The only concern about England’s display was the failure to reflect their supremacy in the scoreline, with Handanovic blocking Terry’s header from a Barry corner and then getting fingertips to Rooney’s effort to divert it on to the woodwork from Lampard’s incisive pass.
And this was giving Slovenia encouragement in a game they should have been out of, as was shown when Terry and Glen Johnson blocked from Milijove Novakovic before Birsa shot wide.
It was the signal for Capello to make a change, removing Rooney – who had been limping slightly – for Joe Cole.
And as Slovenia pushed in the closing stages, James was well protected as they closed out a victory that eased the pressure on Capello and his players.
Now their attention will turn to the clash against old adversaries Germany, who beat Ghana to finish top of Group D.

Brazil qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-1 win against Ivory Coast in their Group G clash at Soccer City on Sunday, but had star midfielder Kaka controversially sent off.
Kaka was dismissed for a second yellow card in the final minutes for pushing Abdelkader Keita, but it appeared the Ivorian had wildly exaggerated the impact of the shove by falling to the ground clutching his head.
Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano showed Brazilian flair in both his goals which takes the Dunga-coached South American giants into the knockout phase with their final group game with Portugal still to come.
Midfielder Elano compounded Ivory Coast’s misery with a well-taken shot on 62 minutes after some great work on the left wing from Kaka before Didier Drogba scored a late consolation goal on 79 minutes.
But Elano was later stretchered off the field with what appeared to be a nasty shin injury.
Chelsea striker Drogba started for the Ivory Coast despite his broken arm, but the Premier League star was largely overshadowed as Dunga’s side lived up to their mantra Joga Bonito — play beautifully — with some Brazilian magic.
The Brazilians opened the scoring when Kaka slotted a pass between two defenders for Luis Fabiano to blast his shot high into the net past Elephants’ goalkeeper Boubacar Barry on 25 minutes.
The Elephants finished the half on the attack with Portsmouth forward Aruna Dindane testing Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but it stayed 1-0 at the break.
Luis Fabiano again showed his class as his three touches — with a suspicion of handball — saw him beat three defenders before rifling his shot past Barry who could only get a glove to the ball on 52 minutes.
Elano, who also scored in Brazil’s 2-1 win over North Korea in their opening game, then got in on the act when Kaka squared the ball from the left wing for the Galatasaray midfielder to score after an hour.
But within minutes he had to leave the field after a lunging studs-up challenge from an Ivorian.
“We conceded three easy goals, but their first one was very good,” said Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
“We were unlucky with the second goal. There was a hand ball but the referee didn’t see it. That should not have been allowed.”
The match ended in a bad-tempered fashion, with Kaita picking up a yellow card for a dangerous tackle which clipped the ankle of Michel Bastos on 75 minutes.
Drogba got on the score sheet when he beat Brazil’s offside trap for an unmarked header which rolled past goalkeeper Julio Cesar with 11 minutes left.
Kaka picked up a yellow card for a push on Yaya Toure on 85 minutes and it turned into a red three minutes later when Keita ran into the Brazilian who was looking the other way, and then crumpled to the floor, clutching his face.
The referee reached for the cards and a disbelieving Kaka was dismissed.
Brazil face Portugal in their final group match on Friday in Durban, while the Ivory Coast face North Korea in Nelspruit at the same time.

The fan who burst into the England dressing room at the World Cup says he was looking for a toilet.
Pavlos Joseph told the Sunday Mirror he accidentally stumbled across the England players in Cape Town’s Green Point stadium.
The incident took place following the team’s 0-0 draw with Algeria on Friday.
Mr Joseph said he told David Beckham England fans had spent “a lot of money” to travel to South Africa and that the team’s performance was “a disgrace”.
Mr Joseph, a 32-year-old mortgage advisor from south-east London, said he had been waiting outside the stadium for his two cousins and their father, after the game.
After half an hour he decided to find a toilet, and said he was pointed in the direction of the players’ tunnel by a steward. While wandering about the tunnel, he said, he suddenly found himself in the England dressing room.
He said: “David Beckham was directly in front of me. I noticed him in his grey suit. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity to tell him how frustrated us, his fans, are.
“I said to him ‘David, we’ve spent a lot of money coming out here. That was a disgrace and what are you going to do about it?’
“He looked at me in surprise and stunned. He didn’t know what to say.
“As he was about to say ‘Who are you?’ one of the Fifa officials came towards me and asked me that question. All the players were looking at each other and looking at myself.
“I said ‘My name’s Pavlos and I’m just looking for a toilet.’”
‘No guards’
Mr Joseph said the Fifa official took him to the nearest toilet, which was in the main building of the ground in the public area, and that the two later exchanged business cards.
“I said to him ‘That atmosphere in the dressing room was shocking’. And he said to me ‘You should have been in there at half-time,’ Mr Joseph added.
“No security guards at any point… had questioned me, stopped me or even attempted to arrest me.”
David Beckham had earlier said the fan he spoke to “didn’t comment on the performance, he walked in, said hello”.
The former England captain, who is with the squad despite missing the tournament through injury, said: “The actual fan literally just walked in very casually and just said something to me and then walked out – there was no scuffle, there was no aggression at all.”