Photos of the Dutch national team appeared on the iconic and world-famous Times Square in New York, known for its huge and flashy billboards, on Saturday evening. It was part of the ‘Oranje takes over New York’ campaign by the KNVB football association.

And so, in the New York evening, in the beating and colorful heart of Manhattan, the face of all-time top scorer Memphis Depay suddenly appeared on the billboards, followed by other black-and-white portraits of the World Cup attendees, captured by fashion photographer Roger Neve.

The evening before, the players of the Dutch national team had gone to take a look at the place where Broadway and 7th Avenue intersect for some relaxation. Luckily for them the weather was still fine at that time. During the launch of the photo campaign it was pouring rain.

Among the advertisements clamoring for attention, the photos of the Dutch team did not stand out particularly, but it ensured that the immense American city breathed something of football, less than a week before the start of the world championship.

Because anyone who wants to experience a football atmosphere in New York, where the final will be played on July 19, will have to spend some time between the skyscrapers. The city is currently turning orange, but in combination with blue. The colors of the New York Knicks, the basketball players in the NBA Finals.

The Dutch national team will play its last practice match for the World Cup on Monday (8:45 PM Dutch time). In the modest Icahn Stadium, enriched with a cinder track, the Uzbekistan of trainer and former world champion Fabio Cannavaro is the opponent.

The public is not welcome. The match will be broadcast at 8.45 pm on NPO 3, NOS.nl and NPO Radio 1. Immediately after the match, the reserves of both countries will also play against each other. That is not an official match, no press is welcome and it will therefore not be broadcast.

The matches mark the end of the Dutch team’s four-day training camp. On Tuesday, national coach Ronald Koeman’s men will fly to Kansas City, where the home base is for this World Cup. On Sunday, June 14, the three-time finalist will start the World Cup with the group match against Japan.