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Van Himst 17, Neeskens 29, Van Basten 61, Degryse 77
BERNE Wankdorf
This local rivalry has at times been bitter down the years, despite a large number of star players from each country having played for clubs from over the border. For example, Rob Rensenbrink and Arie Haan both played for RSC Anderlecht’s great side of the ‘70s, while Eric Gerets and Marc Degryse later played for PSV Eindhoven.
Despite this frequent cross-pollination, the Dutch tend to view Belgian football as dour and cynical, while the Belgians often have a chip on their shoulder about the way their football is unjustly overshadowed by their neighbours’.
Both sides had a point to prove, which made for a hugely entertaining contest.
The Rode Duivels/Diables Rouges (Red Devils) were out to prove they could play attractive football, while the Oranje were determined to show their superiority once and for all.
It was Belgium who struck first, through Paul Van Himst. Belgium’s greatest ever player was usually a centre forward but here played deeper, alongside Enzo Scifo and behind striker Erwin Vandenbergh. After 17 minutes a Total Football-style position switch found Vandenbergh dropping deep and flicking a Van der Elst pass on for the on-rushing Van Himst, who burst past the flat-footed Ronald Koeman to drill past Van der Sar.
The Netherlands came back strongly, with Neeskens covering every blade of grass in the middle of the park and always able to find Van Hanegem, Gullit or Cruyff. Belgium should perhaps have shut up shop (as most Dutchmen would have expected them to), but, still keen to prove themselves, they pressed for further goals.
Cruyff exploited the resultant space, and lost his marker in time for Koeman to find him with a 40 yard pass. He turned and ran at the exposed Belgian defence. Van Basten and Gullit made runs for him, but he carried the ball to the edge of the area.
Faced with centre backs Renquin and Meeuws, he stopped the ball and swerved one way then the other with step-overs. The defenders held their positions and felt they had read his intentions. However, Cruyff suddenly back-heeled the ball, away from goal, perfectly into the path of the on-rushing Neeskens, who launched a 25 yard rocket into the top corner without breaking stride.
Cruyff had manoeuvred his men and the opposition around like chessmen. Belgium learnt their lesson and gradually pulled more men behind the ball as the game went on, looking to hit Holland on the break.
On the hour though, Holland’s pressure told. Renquin tripped Gullit just inside the box and Marco Van Basten slipped the penalty under Jean-Marie Pfaff.
This time it was Holland who came to regret pushing to extend their lead rather than just protecting what they had. Michels brought off van Hanegem to give the great dribbler Faas Wilkes a run out up front. This meant pushing Frank Rijkaard forward into midfield when required.
For quarter of an hour they played blistering attacking football and Guy Thijs’ men were clinging on for dear life. Their only outlet was tall, muscular winger Jan Ceulemans, who was having a fascinating duel with left-back Ruud Krol.
On 77 minutes Ceulemans broke forward again but on this occasion Krol was not quite able to prevent the winger getting an early cross in. Little substitute Marc Degryse caught Koeman off guard and out-paced him to reach the cross and place it past the keeper.
This time Belgium really did retreat into defence, and try as they might Holland could not break them down. At the final whistle Belgium knew they had got off lightly. For the Dutch, there were a few angry looks being thrown around as they walked off the pitch.
They had been over-confident and had been punished. They could not afford to do the same against better opponents.
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