Dick Advocaat turned a FIFA press conference in Kansas into the kind of room that makes reporters lean forward, and Eloy Room sat in the wider story behind it all. The 78-year-old Curaçao bondscoach drew enthusiastic reactions from FIFA employees and foreign journalists before Curaçao’s second World Cup group match.
“That was so funny!” one voice said. “What a great guy.” Another asked, “Is he always like that?” The response was triggered in the large media room at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas, where Advocaat appeared relaxed and entertaining rather than guarded.
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas
Advocaat said, “This is great to experience.” He was also described as 78 years old, which gives the reaction some texture: this was not a staged media stunt, but a veteran coach letting a room breathe. The contrast was sharp because Curaçao had gone into the appearance after a 7-1 loss to Germany.
Livano Comenencia scored Curaçao’s only goal against Germany, and Manuel Neuer was beaten only by Comenencia in that match. For supporters, that detail is likely to linger alongside the first 17 minutes of the game, which the article frames as part of what will be remembered on the island.
Germany and the 7-1
Five days earlier, Advocaat had reacted emotionally after the Germany match, wiping away tears with a handkerchief after the anthem. He said, “Dit is geweldig om mee te maken.” That line fits the broader arc here: Curaçao started building this group with him two years ago, and the coach now presents the team’s rise as something he can feel in real time.
He spelled out that buildup in Dutch: “Twee jaar geleden zijn we begonnen met het team. Toen hadden we drie, vier, vijf spelers die wilden, de rest kwam niet. Geleidelijk aan, toen de resultaten beter werden, werd de selectie ook sterker. Als je ziet van hoe ver we zijn gekomen, dan komt de emotie naar boven. Op mijn leeftijd gaat dat sowieso heel makkelijk.”
Women and children
Advocaat also addressed the setup at the players’ hotel, saying, “En dat bevalt prima, tot nu toe.” Women and children were staying there, and that arrangement had suited the team so far. In a tournament environment, details like that matter because they show how tightly managed the off-field routine is around a small squad under public scrutiny.
The cleaner read on this Kansas scene is simple: Curaçao’s World Cup story is no longer only about results. It is also about a coach old enough to be 78, a room full of international media laughing with him, and a team trying to carry a 7-1 defeat without losing the human profile that has made its run memorable.
