Hooray for Holland and Bye Bye Uruguay!

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst of the Netherlands celebrates scoring. Photo © Cleva Media/Motivio

For the sake of fair play the Orange Army did us all a favour by beating Uruguay 3-2 and reached their first World Cup final since the golden era of Total Football. In 1974 Johan Cryuff lit up the stage in Germany with his infamous “Cryuff turn” and paved the way for a new form of expression in creative football. There is a strong possibility that the final in 2010 could be a repeat of that final if Germany can overcome Spain tonight. Having also reached the World Cup the final in Argentina four years later only to lose again, the current Dutch team will be hoping to make it third time lucky with their new style of pragmatic, counter attacking football.

The modern game has moved on a lot since the days of Cyruff and  many stars have been born and new adaptations of the Dutch way of play have been formed. At the 1982 World Cup finals Brazil shared their skill when they created the aptly named “Samba Football”. However, if history has taught us anything in recent years it has been a more conservative and ruthless style of play that has conquered at the World Cup. The style of World Cup winning teams Italy (2006), Brazil (2002), France (1998), Brazil (1994) and Germany (1990) have relied on a mean defense and more conservative approach.

Under the guidance of their coach Bert van Marwijk the current Dutch squad have stepped out of the shadows of  the class of 1974/78 and the flamboyant teams of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s to create their own piece of footballing history. Players such as Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard, Koeman and in latter years Bergkamp and Overmars entertained the world with their skill and guile and although the team of 2010 do not play the sexy football of their predecessors, it is highly effective. We were wowed with the skill and flair shown by Van Basten’s Euro 2008 team as Holland tried to rekindle the renaissance period of their Manager. Whilst they were fantastic and highly entertaining to watch, they failed when they faced a tough defensive and well organised counter attacking team coached by no other than Dutch master Guus Hiddink. Hiddink recognised their weaknesses and exposed them.

Ruud Gullit famously stated that;

“To beat the Dutch you have to play Holland”

Now I’m not quite sure what he meant and maybe nor was he. But in the past the Dutch have been their own worst enemy. In 2008, Bert van Marwijk was appointed as the new head coach of Holland and although his impact was not profound or immediate, like the German’s he has created a team capable of performing in a competition environment.  It also helps that players such as Arjen Robben and Wesley Sniejder are in the form of their lives. To win the World Cup you need a lot of skill, team work and also luck to work in your favour. The Dutch have made their own luck and not been shy to take advantage when the opportunity has presented itself to benefit from others mistakes.

After stealing victory from Ghana in the quarter finals,  Uruguay did not deserve to be taking part in the semi final. However this is a team who will win by any means necessary and they posed a great threat to Holland’s chances of progressing. Giovanni van Bronckhorst scored possibly the goal of the tournament for the Dutch to take the lead, but Uruguayan danger man Diego Forlan struck again with another great strike which the goalkeeper should have done better with. Goals by Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben should have wrapped up the victory for Holland, but following the late goal by Maxi Pereira had the Dutch hanging on.

Again Uruguay who showed no class in their controversial victory, shamed themselves by surrounding the referee at the end of the game demanding more time, although 4 mins of added time had been played. Holland deserved the victory and it will make for a fantastic all European final, either Spain or Germany stand in their way. Holland have managed to adapt their style, coming into the tournament expectations were not so high for Holland as they had been touted as favorites, much in the same way as Spain in the past but had failed to live up to their top billing. I myself was drawn to the romantic vision that Diego Maradona’s Argentina would conquer with their attacking style, but their strength in attack was not matched by a solid defense.

The pressure was never on Holland to achieve anything at this tournament, they have simply enjoyed playing their game and as Bert van Marwijk explained his joy at reaching the final it is clear that a new era of Dutch football has just begun. The Era of Total Football was once in a lifetime magic, the new generation have fulfilled a long burning ambition to reach the World Cup final, now they have their opportunity to go one better than the teams of 1974 and 1978 and win the Final.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk. Photo © Cleva Media/Motivio

“It was a unique generation with Johan Cruyff, the best footballer who ever existed. So it is great that we have ended up in the final again. I am very happy and proud that such a small country is in the final of a World Cup. It is difficult to understand but you have to go out there and live it and do it.” exclaimed Bert van Marwijk.

It may not be Sexy Football or Total Football, but no-one in Holland will care about this. Ultimately, the Dutch fans will  just want to win the World Cup final, maybe it will be third time lucky.

As for the Uruguayans like a bad itch the more you scratch it the more irritating it becomes. They have lost but we have still not seen the last of them as they will compete in the 3rd and 4th place play off. We will have the opportunity of welcoming back Luis Suarez who was banned for only one game after breaking Ghanaian hearts! This however presents us all with the opportunity to give Uruguay and Suarez the send off they deserve. Although Diego Forlan has scored some fantastic goals, his team’s behaviour at this tournament has been nothing short of shameful. No honour in victory and a unsporting behaviour in defeat, I for one will be glad to see the back of them and say bye bye Uruguay!

By Eoin Mundow