KEY POINTS:
When it comes to the football World Cup everyone knows that teams play for 90 minutes and at the end the Germans win.
And now we know that at every other sporting World Cup, teams play for however long and at the end the New Zealanders lose.
But defeat isn't so bad when it's all part of a good night out.
The Waitakere Trusts Stadium appeared to be the venue for a giant hen party last night. There were silver wigs, classic hits from the 1980s at full volume and plenty of people old enough to know better trying to cram once-nubile flesh into outfits they were probably wearing the first time they heard Dexys Midnight Runners.
It created the sort of atmosphere that felt as if it could sweep everyone to their feet, to chant defence all night - as some did - and scream like a banshee every time the Silver Ferns did something remotely useful.
There were, however, a couple of noticeable figures who were immune to having a good time.
All Black coach, or should that be ex-All Black coach or possibly about-to-be-ex-All Black coach Graham Henry didn't seem like he was having a rip-roaring good time. Which is strange really, as he spent all year hoping to watch a team wearing black play in a World Cup final.
And then there was the PM, resplendent in cream. To be fair, it wouldn't have been a good look for Helen Clark to be jumping to her feet, spraying her half-chewed pop-corn everywhere as she cheered the gals on, so she opted for the more demure, grin and grimace strategy.
She seemed a little more polished when it came to the grimace, which is probably something to do with the amount of practice she has had this year, what with having to watch the cricketers, sailors and rugby players all bomb.
But while it was admirable that the home crowd cheered and sang like their lives depended on it, there was a detectable sense that, underneath it all, they knew the Silver Ferns were going to lose.
It was as if everyone had decided to come along, aware of the likely outcome, and make the most of it nevertheless.
That would explain why they raised the roof earlier in the evening when Jamaica held off England 53-52 in the bronze medal match.