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Batistuta 27, Cruyff 39, Di Stefano 56, Bergkamp 88
MADRID - Bernabeu
Madrid would host perhaps the most eagerly-anticipated match of the first round, between two sides with genuine hopes of going all the way to the final.
On one level, this was a chance for several Dutchmen to get revenge for the controversial 1978 World Cup final. On another level, this would be Holland’s Total Football against perhaps the first ‘Total Footballer’ – Alfredo Di Stefano. When Don Alfredo arrived in Europe in the mid-fifties, the status quo was very much that players had one position to play and they stuck to it.
A Right winger would never drop back into his own half, nor would he switch to the opposite wing. Di Stefano though, could do everything. Attack, defend, tackle, pass, create chances or finish them. He revolutionised perceptions of what one man could do on the pitch.
If Pele and Maradona vie for the title of world’s number one, Di Stefano competes for the bronze medal with today’s opponent Cruyff.
Di Stefano struck first, running from the centre circle and evading a crunching Neeskens tackle, he played an inch-perfect through ball for Batistuta, who shrugged off Koeman and finished powerfully.
By now Koeman’s place in the Dutch side was coming under serious threat. He had great passing and vision, and could strike a good dead ball, but he lacked pace. Argentina’s attackers clearly saw him as a weaker link than Suurbier, Krol or Rijkaard.
Both sides of his game were demonstrated in a couple of minutes in the run up to half time. First, he pinged a magnificent 60 yard ball over the top which Cruyff leapt to pluck from the air with his toe. As he landed, the skipper pirouetted away from Monti and Ruggeri in one movement and slid the ball past Fillol in goal.
Just two minutes later however, Koeman was again exposed for pace and hauled down Maradona. Daniel Passarella blasted the free kick through the wall but just past the post.
Michels decided enough was enough and at half
time sacrificed Koeman for 1970s stopper Barry Hulshoff. Hulshoff had missed the 1974 World Cup through injury and felt overdue a game. He succeeded in tightening things up at the back but again Di Stefano found the answer.
On 56 minutes Maradona set off on a slaloming run from right to left across the edge of the area. After evading three tackles, he was finally caught by Neeskens, but the ball broke back off Suurbier and Maradona, from on the ground, flicked the ball inside to Di Stefano, who had ghosted into the box while attention was on his team mate.
Neither Van der Sar nor Rijkaard were able to close him down in time to prevent him putting his side back in front.
Suddenly Holland were in trouble. Half an hour to go and facing the prospect of one point from two games. This tournament was not going at all the way they had expected. They huffed and puffed but looked increasingly desperate. They pushed forward with some great football but always hit a blue and white wall on the edge of the box.
Argentina were being pressed further and further back, but looked composed, and ever dangerous on the break. Dutch salvation came with just two minutes to go. Cruyff popped up on the left edge of the box and turned Zanetti beautifully. His mid-height cross was deflected behind Van Basten, but the Milan man reacted instantly to adjust his body.
Allowing himself to continue his forward momentum, he stuck his leg backwards like a scorpion’s tail and managed to flick the ball on to substitute Dennis Bergkamp, who volleyed home from six yards.
Just as in 1998, Bergkamp had stung Argentina at the death, but this time the Dutch reaction was relief rather than jubilation. They had not really clicked yet, but still had the destiny in their own hands.
Argentina had put in two decent performances to put themselves in pole position, but would be frustrated not to have all but eliminated one of their title rivals.
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