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2004 Euro ~ Holland vs Czech Republic (10 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on May 18, 2012
One of the greatest classic matches in the history of the Euro tournaments.
The match started with a bang and more bangs would follow. As the game progressed, both sides began to neglect their defensive duties for sheer attacking drive. Played at breakneck speed, the drama at both ends of the field was immense. By the end of the game, both sides had attempted nearly 40 shots. An absolute classic match that’s a real joy to watch in its full form.
1972 Euro Final ~ West-Germany vs USSR (10 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on May 14, 2012
The rise of Özil, Müller and Götze is often represented as a break with Germany’s traditional brand of football. Suddenly the masters of hard work, discipline and ruthless effiency have added skill, creativity and flair to their side.
The reality is that such qualities have always been part of Germany’s greatest teams. This fact is best demonstrated by the 1972 side that, among others, demolished England at Wembley. With Franz Beckenbauer as the undisputed leader, Paul Breitner as the marauding left back, Günter Netzer as the brilliant playmaker and Gerd Müller as the lethal finisher, few at the time could hope to match this German soccer team in any aspect of the game.
But at the height of the Cold War, there was no more fearsome opponent in Europe than the Soviets and their mysterious, mathematical approach to football.
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1988 Euro Semi-Final ~ West-Germany vs Holland (10 min. HL)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on May 13, 2012
On paper, it was just a semi-final. In practise, it was much more than that. As Holland coach Rinus Michels would later declare: “it was the real final”.
Michels’ statement reflects the hatred that the Dutch felt for the Germans at the time. The memory of the Second World War still loomed over Dutch society, and the trauma of the 1974 World Cup final had never healed. Since that epic defeat the Dutch had played against the Germans again and again, always insisting that this time, revenge would be exacted. But they just could not beat those Germans. Those diving, cheating, defensive and lucky Germans, as they saw it.
But maybe this time would be different. After the generation of the 70′s, Holland had fallen from grace as a power in international football. They’d missed the 1982 and 1986 World Cup. But with a new generation of great footballers – Rijkaard, Gullit, Koeman, Van Basten – they’d made their way into Euro 1988. A tournament held in Germany. And after stumbling through the group phase, they were now faced with West-Germany itself. The time to finally settle the score had arrived.
But they’d have to defeat an excellent opponent. The Germany of the mid 80′s had been average at best, despite excellent results, but a new crop of world class players was emerging: Matthaus, Voller, Brehme, Klinsmann. Coached by Franz Beckenbauer – captain of 1974, they’d do anything in their power to once again destroy the Dutch on German soil.
1996 Euro Group A ~ England vs Holland (10 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on May 11, 2012
In 1996, it had been thirty years since England had won their last major trophy. As hosts of Euro 1996, the whole island nation was geared toward replicating the home triumph of 1966. The team looked good enough to do the job. No defense could pretend to be safe against the Gascoigne-Shearer-Sheringham triangle. England had comfortably beaten the old foe Scotland thanks to a magic goal by Gascoigne. Now the first real test had arrived.
The Netherlands. In the last six years, England had played five matches against Holland. And won zero. Would this time be any different?
1984 Euro Semi-Final ~ France vs Portugal (10 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on May 10, 2012
Among all the great Euro matches played since the tournament’s inception in 1960, this game between France and Portugal might very well take the crown for sheer drama and entertainment value.
Portugal had certainly been impressive in the group phase. They had remained unbeaten, conceding only one goal after 270 minutes of play against West-Germany, Spain and Romania.
But could they now also stop Platini’s rampant France? Unquestionably the best European football nation in those days, France had won all its group matches, with Platini scoring an incredible number of six goals in three games. Could he and his fellow members of Le Carré Magique (Tigana, Fernandez, Giresse, Platini) destroy Portugal’s defense?
1988 Euro Final ~ Holland vs USSR (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on March 1, 2012
A mere thirteen days before this final, Holland and the USSR had clashed in a group match. Holland had been the favourites, but it were the Soviets who triumphed: 1-0.
Even on that day, there was little to seperate the two sides, though. In a sense they were evenly matched on various levels.
Where the USSR were coached by the masterful Valeriy Lobanovskiy, the Dutch had the equally genius Rinus Michels.
Where the USSR had 1986 European Footballer of the Year Igor Belanov, the Dutch had the 1987 European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit.
But in that group match, one player in particular was missing. The player who had subsequently shot Holland past England and Germany.
Marco van Basten.
Could he tip the balance in Holland’s favour?
2008 Euro Group Match ~ Holland vs France (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on February 7, 2012
What a difference two years can make.
Holland had been disappointing in the 2006 World Cup. They had played stale football. Not that anyone remembers their football. Their only noteworthy contribution to the tournament, was, after all, that notorious ultra-violent KO match against Portugal.
France in contrast had come inch close to actually winning the 2006 World Cup. Inspired by Zidane, they knocked out Brazil, Spain and Portugal, only losing out on penalties to Italy in the final.
Two years later, Holland opened Euro 2008 by comfortably beating World Champions Italy 3-1, thanks to lightning quick counter-attacks. France meanwhile couldn’t get more than a draw against Romania. Zidane was gone, and despite the presence of his spiritual successor Ribery, the French made a sluggish, uninspired impression.
Had the roles really reversed in only two years time? Had France, without Zidane, become a weak team that was going to be slaughtered by a rampant Holland? Or had the Dutch merely been lucky in their win over Italy?
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1988 Euro Semi-Final ~ West-Germany vs Holland (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on November 14, 2011
On paper, it was just a semi-final. In practise, it was much more than that. As Holland coach Rinus Michels would later declare: “it was the real final”.
Michels’ statement reflects the hatred that the Dutch felt for the Germans at the time. The memory of the Second World War still loomed over Dutch society, and the trauma of the 1974 World Cup final had never healed. Since that epic defeat the Dutch had played against the Germans again and again, always insisting that this time, revenge would be exacted. But they just could not beat those Germans. Those diving, cheating, defensive and lucky Germans, as they saw it.
But maybe this time would be different. After the generation of the 70′s, Holland had fallen from grace as a power in international football. They’d missed the 1982 and 1986 World Cup. But with a new generation of great footballers – Rijkaard, Gullit, Koeman, Van Basten – they’d made their way into Euro 1988. A tournament held in Germany. And after stumbling through the group phase, they were now faced with West-Germany itself. The time to finally settle the score had arrived.
But they’d have to defeat an excellent opponent. The Germany of the mid 80′s had been average at best, despite excellent results, but a new crop of world class players was emerging: Matthaus, Voller, Brehme, Klinsmann. Coached by Franz Beckenbauer – captain of 1974, they’d do anything in their power to once again destroy the Dutch on German soil.
England away from Wembley ~ A History of Failure
Whenever there’s a World Cup or Euro tournament, England is counted among the favourites. After all, these chaps invented the game, have the world’s best football league, a squad filled with big name players, and, unlike the Dutch or Portuguese, they’ve actually won a World Cup before. So why not again?
A good question. With a simple answer. Because the facts reveal that, leaving aside games played on Wembley (in 1966 and 1996), England has never beaten a major country in a KO game in either a Euro tournament or World Cup.
Check the historical overview for England’s shocking history of failure away from Wembley.
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