1988 memories: classic pictures!

It was exactly twenty years ago, when Oranje won it’s first and only title. The current internationals remember that victory well. We will reminiscence with them and their photo’s from those golden days.

Henk Timmer: “I remember watching the game against Ireland in Germany. I was there for a youth tournament with PEC Zwolle and when Kieft scored, we just broke out shouting and yelling. We really looked up to those guys. Van Basten, sure, but I was a huge fan of Hans van Breukelen. He may not have been the best goalie ever, but that passion and his winner’s mentality… Awesome. And ask van Nistelrooy and Van der Sar… They’ll tell you the same thing. We thought these guys were giants.”

“And now I’m going to an EC my self. You don’t realize it, really, until you’re a day off and you see the orange houses and cakes and what not. And people coming up to you, wishing you luck. My little girl asked me the other day: “Daddy, why does everyone know you?”… That’s the impact of Oranje.”

Rafael with the 1988 European Cup

The picture of Rafael van der Vaart with the EC cup was almost never made. Ramon van der Vaart, Rafael’s dad: “Rafael was sick the day the KNVB came to his amateur club. They did this tour around the country with it and Rafael really wanted to go, but right on that day, he couldn’t come. The club management felt sorry for him and arranged for the cup to go to him.”

The family Van der Vaart watched all the games. “Rafael also saw the evening games, like the Germany game. I couldn’t get him to go to bed. I think Raf watched the video of that game at least 50 times after the tournament was over. Every day for at least a year and a half. I thought that was remarkable.”

Klaas Jan Huntelaar: “What I remember best of 1988 is that I was allowed to play for a club. I was 5 years old, one year too young, but my dad was my coach and he bent the rules a bit for me. I got all sorts of goodies, like a Gullit-pillow and key-changes and all, but I can’t remember a lot of the games. I do remember one event from the 1990 WC, the Rijkaard - Voller spitting… That was something we talked about at school.”

Wesley Sneijder in Orange

Wesley Sneijder, four years old, was with his older brother Jeffrey and his dad part of the group supporters cheering the team when they came back home from Germany. Barry Sneijder, Wes’ dad: “I was there with my bike. Wes was on the front seat, Jeff on the rear… The atmosphere was just fantastic. Wes wanted to see all the games, even the evening games. I was only 23 years old myself, so I was also a total football nut. Wes would make his face up with orange face paint.”

Orlando Engelaar, scoring for Feyenoord

Orlando Engelaar, born and raised in Rotterdam, watched all the games at home. “But not with orange wigs or anything. My memories… Well, the Van Basten volley was a classic, but also that unbelievable scorching header Gullit scored was tremendous. That one almost went through the net. Amazing when I think about the fact that I’m going to the EC myself.”

Young Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt was eight years old and remembers the images of the parties in the Amsterdam canals. “I was so young, I couldn’t really grasp what was happening. I was watching all the games with a Gullit wig, I remember that well. Whenever the game was played, we would run outside and re-play the match. I was always Gullit. I was crazy about him. Can you imagine how cool it was when he became my coach later at Feyenoord?”

Tim De Cler, what were you thinking?!??!!

Tim de Cler grew up in Leiden and was 9 years old in 1988. “When Oranje scored, we’d all run outside to celebrate for a while and then we’d run back in. I missed the last minutes of Holland - Germany. After that 2-1 I ran outside and didn’t come back for some time. Ruud Gullit was my idol. I had one of those wigs, with a cap, you know? I wore it during the whole tournament. I also remember the 1986 WC, but Holland wasn’t there so it didn’t make an impact. I recently though about it, I always went to see Oranje play with my mates. Oranje jersey on and all. And now…I’m playing…”