This is the first episode of a new series: The Duel.
Two great players. One game. One winner. Who played better? You decide.
This first edition pits Gianni Rivera against Johan Cruyff. The setting is the 1969 European Cup final AC Milan vs Ajax. Milan won 4-1, after consistently overrunning the 2 man midfield from Ajax.
Gianni Rivera was given all the time and space to demonstrate both his elegant dribbling skills and his excellent passing abilites.
Cruyff got less space from the Milan defense. But at 22, he’s a daring solist who embarks on adventurous runs regardless of what he’ll find on his path.
So who played better: Cruyff of Rivera?
#1 by Enganche on November 28, 2011 - 18:55
LOL. I don’t think Cruyff gave a single pass
#2 by Alex on November 28, 2011 - 20:15
The duel looks like a great initiative. Keep it up.
#3 by Alex on November 28, 2011 - 20:22
Rivera hands down. He gave 2 assists and also created more clear chances. Cruyff was good also, making many succesfull runs and dribblings.
#4 by Thomas A on November 28, 2011 - 21:11
In terms of pure effectiveness, Rivera wins this. Great performance. No wonder he won the Ballon d’Or that year.
That said, Rivera had the benefit of being on the better team. Milan slaughtered Ajax on the counterattack.
I’m being hypothetical here, but if Cruyff had been on Milan’s side that day, he would have wreaked absolute havoc. But as it was, everytime he dribbled past a defender, there were two more Milan defenders waiting.
#5 by 4Dfoot on November 28, 2011 - 23:11
Thomas:
Yeah, Ajax were naive in this game, giving far too much space to Milan. This loss, incidentally, was a major factor in Michels’ decision to switch from 4-2-4 to the 4-3-3 system that would become the foundation for Ajax’s (and Holland’s) triumphs in the 70′s.
So in a sense, Ajax and Holland fans should be grateful to Rivera for teaching them a few lessons.
#6 by griselda on November 29, 2011 - 00:51
honestly none of them played that well.
#7 by R. Donadoni on November 30, 2011 - 15:05
Why, because they didn’t tap a ball over the goal line? Both players created multiple dangerous situation from, essentially, nothing. In a European Cup final that’s highly impressive.
#8 by John Young on December 4, 2011 - 22:51
Great video. Milan were awesome that night. Rivera played well, but it wasn’t a truly great performance despite setting up 2 goals. He actually had a lot of trouble escaping his marker (a giant wearing number 7) for most of the first half as Milan sat back and defended their early goal. Still I was impressed by his work rate, even though some of his tackling was hilariously half-hearted. He covered a lot of ground and made some important interceptions on the edge of the Milan box. The thing that struck me most about Rivera was how he was always looking to do something creative when he got in possession. Even though he lost the ball quite a lot and misplaced his passes, it was always because he was trying to get past his marker or find the killer pass – he never went sideways or backwards. A complete contrast to the deep-lying playmakers of the recent past who seem intent on boring us to death. Both of his assists were out of the top drawer, and after the 4th goal there was some real exhibition stuff from the Golden Boy.
Cruyff on the other hand, showed very little apart form a few frightening surges of pace. It’s really odd how at this point in his career there seems to be nothing but individualism in his play – or maybe he just had an off day. The whole Ajax team just seemed to lack sophistication despite their huge amount of possession. There was something very Brazilian about the way they just hammered in crosses and blasted long-range shots without any precision.
Milan on the other hand were so efficient on the counter attack. They must have made about 5x the number of chances with about half the amount of possession as Ajax. In terms of individual battles, I don’t think Ajax won any. Hulshoff in particular had an appalling night against Sormani (Milan’s centre forward) who was probably the best player on the pitch. Suurbier also had a nightmare faced with Prati, and probably considered himself lucky that injury spared him any further embarassment in the 2nd half. In fact the whole Milan team was brilliant. The 4 man-markers all shut down their charges, Malatrasi swept up, Cudicini looked clumsy but was actually very good, and Hamrin is a legend and looked so classy on the ball even though he was well into his 30s. Even Lodetti was unlucky to give away the penalty. He went to ground, but the contact was minimal (if there was any) and Keizer did the most shameless belly flop. Still, Ajax were desperate at this point, and all it did was stir Milan into action and moved them up a gear.
Still Ajax would have better times ahead, and this was something of a last hurrah for this particular Milan line-up.
#9 by 4Dfoot on December 6, 2011 - 17:50
Great observations, John.
Both Rivera and Cruyff played with a sense of adventure that’s completely lacking from today’s football. When they got the ball they immediately looked to create something – and if they lost the ball while trying, well, better luck next time.
If anyone would try to play like that today, they’d be bood off the field after losing the ball a few times in succession.
Several of the Ajax players were axed by Michels after this game. Hulshoff, whom you singled out for his bad performance, was among them. He managed to come back into the team though.
#10 by sa'ad al-khatib on December 10, 2011 - 00:58
i would normally go with cruyff But looking at the video i would say that cruyff is more skillful but hes selfesh and rivera is more effective than him in this match.
so its rivera for me
#11 by Franco on December 24, 2011 - 04:16
I didnt see a great deal between the 2 players bearing in mind Milan were the stronger team, Cruyff seemed the more talented but he played as if he was trying to win the game on his own, Rivera was less energetic, its a toss up.
#12 by Franco on December 24, 2011 - 05:02
4Dfoot…
Well dun, this is the sort of football site Ive been looking for for ages, a chance to discuss & see the greatest players of the past, most sites seem to concentrate on todays game & dont give enough respect to the legends like cruyff & co… good job, cheers.
Ps. I like this Dual thing, you should do more of them between great players on the same pitch, classic stuff.
#13 by Pedro on December 25, 2011 - 09:30
Great video!! Everyone who loves football has to visit your site man!
By the way, what’s the name of the song?
Thanks
#14 by db on February 3, 2012 - 16:10
Rivera played better, but Cruyff is much better than him, Cruyff is one of the best player´s ever
#15 by Ammar on February 4, 2012 - 05:56
I chose Cruyff ONLY because he’s 22, and he’s making dribbles as good as Messi, but individualism cost his side the match. Rivera was spectacular, but Cruyff is young. Remember that.