World Cup diary: Netherlands v Argentina could see House of Orange segmented
Albiceleste fans are trying to claim the Dutch queen as one of their own - but she insists she's not supporting the country of her birth
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has had to insist she won't be suffering from divided loyalties when the country she reigns over takes on the country in which she was born and bred.
The only other World Cup meeting between the teams since she married into the royal family in 2002, a group stage clash in 2006, ended in a goalless draw, with both teams having already qualified for the next stage - apparently a “great relief”.
The royal family insisted to AFP this week: “The Royal Family supports the Dutch team.”
Some Argentinian stories claim the match is “causing tension between the royal couple” in a “kingdom divided”, reports AFP.
Among the tweets doing the rounds: this one of a heavily-tatted King Willem-Alexander with Maxima resplendent in Argentina body paint. 'The Royal couple is ready for the semi-finals' says the caption.
This one purports to picture the scene in the palace:
