PSV drops the world cup for club teams

The World Cup match for club teams is on! And it’s exactly 20 years ago that PSV missed their opportunity for eternal glory. It was a sunny day in Tokyo and Hiddink’s PSV dropped the world gold a couple of times so Nacional decided to pick it up… A reconstruction.

Wim wanted to win this!

PSV has probably missed the opportunity to be mentioned in one breath with Ajax and Feyenoord. Both Dutch behemoths won the European Cup and took the world cup back to Holland after illustrious and tough matches against South American opponents. PSV had the chance to up their status by simply winning that cup. It was only after they’d lost that the team realized what tremendous glory this cup oozed for the rest of the world. The club was only interested in promoting the Philips brand while the players felt lost so far away from home, in this weird country and culture.

PSV had to fly via Alaska, because the Soviet Union still hadn’t allowed western airlines to cross their airspace. Direct flights to Tokyo simply didn’t exist. And it was during that stop over in Alaska, that PSV wonder-striker Romario saw snow for the first time in his life.

But, the Brazilian enfant terrible refused to leave the plane. He wanted to sleep, which was his preferred prep for a game. (that and one other pastime one executes in bed as well). But, the Japanese cabin crew didn’t care. He had to leave the plane. Today, they’d all want a photo opp with the little big man, but back then Romario star was just on the rise.

It was minus 20 degrees and his team mates were looking for a pub. Instead of preparing to take eternal glory, they were busy teaching Romario four-letter words. As a highschool class on a field trip. And a 24 hour flight can hardly be called a good prep for a top match.

The players had trouble kicking their jetlag. On top of that, sponsor Philips had organized a couple of official functions, which made it hard for the players to focus. Wim Kieft, experienced in Italy, tried to convince everyone what impact this prize would have, but most players and coaches ignored him.

Kieft was devastated on the way back, realizing they missed a unique opportunity. “There was no atmosphere whatsoever in the stadium, but you need to win that match anyway. Doesn’t matter. When I saw these guys doing their rounds with the cup, it sank in that we missed a huge chance. We were so stupid to not recognize the importance of this cup.” Soren Lerby can kick himself now, but back then he didn’t feel like playing that game. Only later, when he was back in Denmark, he realized what a mistake he made calling this a bullshit game. Most fans in Denmark kept asking him about the game and the result.

How close was PSV in winning the cup? Very close. Twice, PSV had the cup in their hands. “A game to get a heartattack,” said La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy. But in Holland, no one seemed to care. The game was even aired with two hours delay, because Studio Sport reckoned no one would get up in the middle of the night.

Nacional from Montevideo was the opponent. It had won the cup twice already, but wasn’t really well known in Europe. The finals, played in Tokyo, was seen as a commercial monster in Holland. But Philips liked it. They even considered to change their name in Philips SV, to present themselves in the land of electronics.

Coach Guus Hiddink had seen Nacional play on video tape, but didn’t really know anything about the team. “I do think we’re the better team. Not knowing the opponent is interesting. I see it as a test to see where we are.” The world cup was nothing compared to the European Cup and PSV had just given Porto a 5-0 beating. This World Cup would be something they’d win on the side…

In eight finals in Tokyo, European teams only won twice. But PSV didn’t lack any confidence. So, with EC stars Vanenburg, Kieft, Koeman, Van Breukelen, Van Aerle and Olympic hero Romario and other international big names like Eric Gerets and Soren Lerby PSV thought they had a team worthy of the world title.

Nacional started sharp. In the 8th minute, Van Breukelen missed the ball and Nacional scored the 1-0. A few minutes later, Hugo de Leon could have killed the game, but he missed. That was the sign for PSV to take matters in their own hands.

In the second half, Hiddink changed the game plan to 4-2-4. Romario scored the equalizer and as off that goal, PSV dominated. In the extra time, it was sub Hans Gillhaus who got fouled and Ronald Koeman scored from the spot in the 110th minute. Now, PSV only had to finish the game, with 10 minutes to go. But, in the last minute Nacional had a corner kick and again it was Van Breukelen who misjudged the ball: 2-2.

Penalty kicks. The series that followed was bizar and unforgettable. Even neutral fans couldn’t believe their eyes. Koeman scored with a typical dry, hard shot. But Kieft missed with a howler. Two Nacional players missed too, and Gillhaus and Romario scored. After Romario scored, he taunted the opponent which made the ref book the Brazilian. The referee, from Columbia, was a Philips employee at the time.

Soren Lerby was supposed to score the decider. But he ramsacked the cross bar. De Leon scored the equalizer and it would take till the 20est penalty before there was a decision, after Gerets and Berry van Aerle had missed. The whole of Montevideo marched out onto the streets, but in Eindhoven most people still needed to wake up to watch the delayed broadcast.

On the long trip back, Hiddink realized his team had missed a huge opportunity. Ten years later, Guus would win the world cup with Real Madrid. “It’s better to win it, you know. The trip back is much longer when you’ve lost the game.”