2008…1988…it’s happening again!

In 1988, the Dutch fans weren’t too sure their team would do that good. The qualifications weren’t a big success. Michels was struggling with his system… Well, it has been said here before, you know all the stories. Let’s see how 1988 stacks up vs 2008, because my crystal ball sees numerous similarities.

Time and Place: the EC1988 was in the summer and so is this one. And in ‘88 the hosts spoke German (and still do) and so do the current host countries (they do speak three more languages in Switzerland, but Austria tips the scales I’d say…)

Year: they both end with an 8! In numerology, that’s important.

20 years difference: The Beatles sang: it was 20 years ago today… How profound is that…

Coaches and systems: then and now, we have a coach who never won a prize with Oranje yet (Michels then, Van Basten now) and both coaches were struggling with their systems till just before the tournament. Michels played 4-3-3 even in the first match, before he switched to 4-4-2 against England.

Top strikers injured: Van Basten came back from a huge injury in 1988. Now Van Persie doesn’t seem to flash. The fresh Milan striker made the EC1988 his tournament. The rest is history. We’ll see Robin do this too! Or Arjen for that matter. Or Ruud!

Goalies couldn’t fail: Van Breukelen had won the EC1 with PSV, being the penalty-killer. Sar is our current Breuk! He will be unbeatable on the EC, like he was against Chelsea (two balls on the woodwork, one ball off target when he slipped…give Chelsea a break!!!!)
Sar will deny Portugal their goal from the spot in the 2008 finals!

Club successes: In 1988, all our big boys did very well with their respective clubs (PSV winning the EC1 trophee). I can’t remember much of the specifics of the other players, but I do remember most players were on some sort of high. Ajax winning in 1987 of course… Milan winning the scudeto in 1988.

This time around, Madrid won the title, PSV won the title, Sar won two big prizes, HSV got into Europe, Feyenoord won the national cup and yesterday our own Jan Vennegoor of Hesseling scored the 1-0 making Celtic the new Scottish champs! (well done Long John!).

Big names bailing out: Now, of course we have Seedorf chickening out, then we had…what’s his name…see…I can’t even remember who that was…

Questionable defenders: In 1988 Michels selected Koevermans and Suvrijn as defenders… The nation shivered. Now, we’re discussing our lack of big name defenders but at the end of the EC, we won’t care. We didn’t need them then, we won’t need them this time around.

Jerseys: Then we wore Orange, now we wear Orange!

Van Basten: Then we had Van Basten’s magic, now we will have Van Basten’s magic

(note from the blog-management: we have decided to release Jan from his editorial duties. We’re sorry but we trust his family will take good care of him).