Dutch set to take green, green grass of Berne home

By Iain Rogers

BASEL (Reuters) - Berne plans to give Netherlands some of the Stade de Suisse turf as a gesture of thanks for the fantastic atmosphere around the team's three Euro 2008 group matches in the Swiss capital, the mayor said on Friday.

An estimated 50,000 Dutch supporters flooded in for each game, turning the city centre orange and encouraging locals to join the party.

The Stade de Suisse turf is being replaced by its normal artificial surface and Mayor Alexander Tschaeppaet said the city wanted to donate parts of it to Netherlands, coach Marco van Basten or whoever wanted some.

"We want people to retain some memories from the stadium and this wonderful time," Tschaeppaet said in a telephone interview. "The people here are very sad now as it's so quiet."

Dutch fans also took out full-page advertisements in Berne's two main newspapers to thank the city for its hospitality, he said.

The Dutch support are now gathering in Basel ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against Russia hoping their team can maintain the sizzling form that has yielded three wins in a row.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)