Forget ‘74 and ‘88

The Dutch football team has always been admired across the border. But in Holland itself, the criticism has been growing over the last ten years. But, recently foreign analysts also start to wonder what’s wrong with the Dutch Football School. What is wrong?

Gunther Netzer, former football-genius and analist at ARD:
“The Dutch School of Johan Cruyff was the best I’ve ever seen in football. Always dominating, always based on your own strength and never adapt to the opponent. You can do that only if you have the best players. I really love the Dutch football culture, but it’s gone. The old style has been replaced by this new realism and you can only hope that the Dutch will have some success with it. But the beauty has faded. I only see a team with very good players, but very result oriented. I compare them with Bayern Munich of some years back. Good results, but the fans thought they were boring. And if you play great football, people will forgive failure, if you play boring people won’t. I think Van Basten is an ok coach, but to say that the EC2008 is your main goal while you’re at the WC2006… That I don’t understand.”
Holland oozes quality and will beat Rumania and qualify without a doubt.”

Tony Adams (Voormalig analist bij de BBC and former Arsenal icon):

“The world always expects the best and most magical football from the Dutch. But why? Because they did in 1974 and 1988? But I think those successes were the result of tremendous players, who were used well by their coaches. Holland produces so many great players for such a small nation. But, there is difference between good and brilliant players. The latter category only comes past every so many years. Today, Holland doesn’t have enough brilliant players. Robin van Persie is the ultimate. Everyone can see that. Maybe Sneijder will reach that level. But that’s it. And that’s not enough to win titles. The problem with the Dutch is that young players follow the money too soon. They should ripen a tad longer at Ajax, Feyenoord or PSV. Some develop themselves in the academy of Arsenal or Man United, but that’s only for the happy few. Players who move to Wigan or Bolton or Manchester City may end on the bench. They fill up their bank accounts, but don’t grow. Marco van Basten has to face that music, and it sounds a bit out of tune…”

Giuseppe Bergomi (Analist at SkyTC and former Azurri defender):

“As a kid I highly enjoyed the Oranje of 1974. Let’s face it, what they showed the world changed football for ever. The transformation in Italy came much later with Sacchi at AC Milan.
He was inspired by the Dutch and used three Dutch masters to help him. Italians are conservative. We don’t like change or taking risks. Talent doesn’t get that many chances in Italy. And therefore there’s not a lot of foreign coaches in Italy. People say Marco van Basten lacks experience, but I say, with his experience as player and his charisma, he should be able to pull it off. Oranje has enough talent now, although they did have a poor WC. Italy even played more offensive. Their defense is poor, but the attack and midfield is spectacular. Robben, Sneijder, Van Nistelrooy and Van Persie are world class players. Van Persie is my favorite. I would always want him in my team if I was coach. What a superb technical skills. I also like his shrewdness, we call it cattiveria. The Dutch league is second rate, at the moment. ALl the big boys play abroad. In Italy, not a lot of people follow the Dutch league.
I never understood why Marco didn’t want Seedorf in the group. Some players can have a negative effect on a group, like Cassano with us, but I know Seedorf as a very social, gentle and intelligent man. He is very active in charities. It’s strange why the Dutch in general and Marco spefically neglected him so long. Maybe his character is more Mediterranean?
Oranje will certainly qualify, no doubt about it. I think it’ll be a draw against Rumania. But success at the EC will only come if Marco finds a way to strengthen defense.”

Source: www.ad.nl