Team Oranje
Most football fans in Singapore are likely to be supporters of England or Brazil. Oddly for me, I like the Netherlands. Team Oranje fascinates me. Maybe it was Van Basten’s sublime and unstoppable volley past the USSR goalie, Dassayev that made me sit up, Gullit’s dreadlocks, the terrific triumvirate of Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard at AC Milan or Arsenal’s Dennis Bergkamp. It must be all these factors.
Of course, the Brazil of ’82 was the classiest side one could have ever witness. I must say the side led by Socrates was the best ever. However, Team Oranje will still be my favourite international team.
To start with… it must be the Total Football during the seventies. All I can remember is coach Rinus “The General” Michels, Johan “The Maestro” Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Arie Han, Ruud Krol, not more. They were probably dominant, reaching the World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but fail to win anything in that decade. The nearly men of world football.
Their glorious moment must be in 1988. The Koeman-Rijkaard-Gullit-Van Basten axis brought them the Euro glory. From 1988 till now, I think, barren of trophies. Who cares, they still play sparkling football and churns talented footballers every generation. I am gonna to name players in the following passage….to those non-Dutch fans…stay away…..
Frank Rijkaard plays superbly in midfield while Van Basten scores goals for fun. Then, there is Ruud Gullit, the phenom. The heart and soul of the team. Mr Dreadlocks had numerous knee operations, every time, he bounces back stronger. Gullit, in his heydays, runs in full flight, with his dreadlocks bobbing up and down, he cuts an imposing figure. To me, he was the complete modern footballer, the great strength to support all his teammates with his pace and stamina. These three fabulous talents, singlehandedly, recreated the age of Total Football… once again.
Dutch keepers are worth mentioning too… Hans van Breukelen, Joop Hiele, Stanley Menzo and now, Edwin van der Sar. Commanding and reliable.
Then there is Ronald Koeman – the man with the missile longe range freekicks. No nonsense defenders like Danny Blind, Frank de Boer… Craggy midfielders like Jan Wouters, Peter Bosz, Aaron Winter, Rob Witschge. Skillful Wim Jonk, Bryan Roy…Of course, Arsenal’s No. 10 – Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Kieft.
Moving forward…. we got Khalid Boulahrouz, van Bronckhorst, Zenden, Overmars, van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, van Bommel, Reiziger, van Nistlerooy, Jan Kromkamp, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arthur Numan, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Roy McKaay, Jaap Stam, Philip Cocu….the list goes on.
Team Oranje are the essence of football – there is always the poise and fine balance of the game’s most accomplished footballers, their biting tackes, the orange colour, their fervour fans and finally, their ability to bring the excitement of the game’s greatest occasions and the glorious celebrations… enthrall the world.
Of course, the Brazil of ’82 was the classiest side one could have ever witness. I must say the side led by Socrates was the best ever. However, Team Oranje will still be my favourite international team.
To start with… it must be the Total Football during the seventies. All I can remember is coach Rinus “The General” Michels, Johan “The Maestro” Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Arie Han, Ruud Krol, not more. They were probably dominant, reaching the World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but fail to win anything in that decade. The nearly men of world football.
Their glorious moment must be in 1988. The Koeman-Rijkaard-Gullit-Van Basten axis brought them the Euro glory. From 1988 till now, I think, barren of trophies. Who cares, they still play sparkling football and churns talented footballers every generation. I am gonna to name players in the following passage….to those non-Dutch fans…stay away…..
Frank Rijkaard plays superbly in midfield while Van Basten scores goals for fun. Then, there is Ruud Gullit, the phenom. The heart and soul of the team. Mr Dreadlocks had numerous knee operations, every time, he bounces back stronger. Gullit, in his heydays, runs in full flight, with his dreadlocks bobbing up and down, he cuts an imposing figure. To me, he was the complete modern footballer, the great strength to support all his teammates with his pace and stamina. These three fabulous talents, singlehandedly, recreated the age of Total Football… once again.
Dutch keepers are worth mentioning too… Hans van Breukelen, Joop Hiele, Stanley Menzo and now, Edwin van der Sar. Commanding and reliable.
Then there is Ronald Koeman – the man with the missile longe range freekicks. No nonsense defenders like Danny Blind, Frank de Boer… Craggy midfielders like Jan Wouters, Peter Bosz, Aaron Winter, Rob Witschge. Skillful Wim Jonk, Bryan Roy…Of course, Arsenal’s No. 10 – Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Kieft.
Moving forward…. we got Khalid Boulahrouz, van Bronckhorst, Zenden, Overmars, van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, van Bommel, Reiziger, van Nistlerooy, Jan Kromkamp, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Arthur Numan, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Roy McKaay, Jaap Stam, Philip Cocu….the list goes on.
Team Oranje are the essence of football – there is always the poise and fine balance of the game’s most accomplished footballers, their biting tackes, the orange colour, their fervour fans and finally, their ability to bring the excitement of the game’s greatest occasions and the glorious celebrations… enthrall the world.
posted by The Quiet Stone at 12:18 AM
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