Dick Advocaat (78) Briefly Returns to an Old Love: 'Combining Them Was No Longer an Option; It Was Too Dangerous'

Curaçao, set to compete in the upcoming World Cup, is based in Boca Raton, Florida, a city not far from the world-renowned destination of Miami. With the Miami Marlins playing their baseball games there, the team extended an invitation to Advocaat and Bacuna. The captain had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch, while the national coach was tasked with catching it.

The duo successfully completed the ceremonial duties, and the game for the Marlins then commenced. The presence of Advocaat, Bacuna, and the Curaçao team seemed to bring good fortune to the baseball squad. The Marlins secured a 6-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. This win places the Miami team fourth out of five in the National League East of American baseball.

Advocaat is no stranger to baseball, having played the sport with great passion in his youth. He even reached the first team of ADO before having to choose between baseball and football. "Combining them was no longer an option; it was too dangerous. For me, it became football, but if I had lived in America and had to choose, it might have been baseball. I could be just as passionate about baseball as I am about football," Advocaat told Algemeen Dagblad.

For Advocaat, it was a tremendous honor to open the Miami Marlins' game alongside Bacuna. "Baseball is a beautiful sport. It's fantastic that we, with the Curaçao squad, were invited here. Our social media manager, Anouar Amrani, came up with the idea, and I considered it an honor. Of course, we are here to perform at the World Cup, but we're certainly enjoying this experience."

While Curaçao has established its base in Boca Raton, the team faces the most travel time of all participating nations at the upcoming World Cup. Advocaat and his team will play their first match on Sunday, June 14, at 7:00 PM against Germany in Houston, Texas. Subsequently, on June 21, at 2:00 AM, Ecuador will be their opponent in Kansas City. The final group stage match, however, will be played on June 25, at 10:00 PM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is about a three-hour flight from their previous venue, Kansas City. Ivory Coast will be Curaçao's last group opponent in Philadelphia.

Travel time isn't the only aspect that makes Curaçao unique at the World Cup. With approximately 158,000 inhabitants, the Caribbean island is also the smallest nation ever to participate in a World Cup. Furthermore, at 78 years old, Advocaat is also the oldest participant ever at a World Cup.

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