HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands — Fans are melting away from all four sides of the Abe Lenstra Stadium as S.C. Heerenveen’s players amble around the edge of the field, taking in a cursory lap of honor after a hard-fought win against Sparta Rotterdam.
Most of the squad is going through the motions: taking the shortest route possible, cutting the corners. They chat among themselves, occasionally lifting their heads to pick out friends and family in the crowd or to offer brief bursts of soft, mechanical applause.
Only two players find themselves waylaid. One, Denzel Dumfries, has been voted man of the match.