U21 as an Example, says Cruyff

Johan Cruyff:

The beauty of the U21 European Title is, among the apparent stuff, that it says a lot about how a tournament can go. You can rationalise the world, before the event, but in real-life there are numerous little details, that will determine the outcome.

Take their bad start, for example. It could have had something to do with the number of players in the U21 group that had hoped to go to the WC in Germany, instead of the EC in Portugal with the U21’s. Emanuelson, Vlaar, Huntelaar, Hofs, Castelen… They were all so close. But, after playing a mediocre game, it’s great to see how great teams (helped and supported by a great technical staff) can use that setback to grow. The match against Italy showed that aspect. The team was put under serious pressure, but they survived. And as you have seen, as a group, that apart from playing good football, you can also fight together, than magical things can happen.

And so, after a lame effort against Ukraine, the team played pretty good against Italy and France. Players who were – supposedly – missing the great form were suddenly doing well.

This title will also inspire the Big Oranje team, without a doubt. And there are quite some similarities between de Haan’s team and working methods and that of Marco and John. It’s the little things that need to fit.

I remember Oranje’s start in 1988. It didn’t flow as we wanted, in that first match. We lost. We reached the semi-finals in the closing minutes of the match against Ireland, and we scored late in the semis against Germany. But we reached the finals, and snatched the cup.

Two years later, the team was even better than the ‘88 version. But we couldn’t win a single game. Why? It’s not because Gullit, Wouters, van Basten and Rijkaard didn’t know how to play football. And look at 2002. We had a grand generation of young players (Seedorf, Davids, Kluivert, both De Boers, Stam) and still we couldn’t qualify.

I think it’s great we have two coaches who were there, in ‘88 when we won, and in ‘90 when we lost. And left the tournament in shame. One of the players won the Champions League this year (Rijkaard), let’s see what Marco and John have in store for us…