Curaçao bow out as Room attracts transfer interest

Curaçao out after Costa do Marfim loss

Your World Cup run ends here. Curaçao 0–2 Costa do Marfim on Saturday, and the group stage exit is confirmed (2) (3) (4). No shame in it. This was the first World Cup for the island, and you already had your moment, that 0–0 draw against Ecuador, the point that mattered.

Room: clubs are calling

The goalkeeper everyone talked about is now the goalkeeper clubs want. Eloy Room says interest has poured in after his performances: "Veel clubs hebben zich gemeld" (1). That Ecuador display made him a name far beyond the island.

Van Aanholt: 'We are all so proud'

Patrick van Aanholt kept it simple after the final whistle: "We zijn allemaal zó trots" (2). A defender who has seen a lot in his career, and this clearly meant something different.

Maduro open to national team job someday

Hedwiges Maduro is not ruling out managing Curaçao one day, but not yet. "Nu nog te vroeg," the 41-year-old said (6). For now, Dick Advocaat remains the man in charge.

Willemstad says thank you

Willemstad showed up. Fans gathered to watch the Costa do Marfim match and the message was clear: "Danki Dick Advocaat!", thank you, Dick Advocaat (3). Gratitude, not disappointment, after the final whistle.

Fans pick their moments

Ask any Curaçao fan what they will remember and two things come up: the goal against Germany early in the tournament, and Eloy Room's heroics against Ecuador. "Dat is toch super? Heel vet," one fan said, that's just fantastic, really cool (5).

Willems teases Advocaat about PSV days

Jetro Willems could not resist a joke about his old PSV boss. "Het is nog steeds een trauma voor me", it's still a trauma for me (7). Advocaat left that kind of impression everywhere he went, and the squad has not let him forget it.