Gifted, glittering: What's missing?
- By Xiang Bin
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China.org.cn, September 1, 2011
5. The Dutch soccer team of 1974
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The Dutch soccer team of 1974 is considered by many to be the greatest team never to win soccer's biggest prize. [File photo] |
The Netherlands soccer team of the 1970s gained the world's admiration with its signature Total Football, which was pioneered by Feyenoord and Ajax and led by playmaker Johan Cruyff and national team coach Rinus Michels.
With players such as Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Johnny Rep, Arie Haan and Ruud Krol, the Dutch played some of the best football ever seen in a World Cup. Memorable wins against Argentina and Brazil gave the Dutch a well-deserved place in the final against West Germany.
The Netherlands went one up in the final through a Johan Neeskens penalty before their opponents had even touched the ball.
Unfortunately, the Netherlands couldn't hold on to that lead and allowed West Germany to first equalize and then take the lead before half-time. West Germany held on to win 2-1.
Although West Germany won the World Cup, the Netherlands grabbed the title of"The People's Champions."
Some thought the Dutch had gone for too much flair, when a more pragmatic approach might have seen them win the final. Dutch legend Cruyff disagreed: “The World Cup in 1974 made Dutch football famous – and we lost! So losing the final, is it so bad? We were more famous than ever for losing, because everyone said we should have won... Winning isn't everything, it's how you play."
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