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發表於 2008-6-18 00:30:57
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The Orange Miracle of Bern
f you had to pick a place where football history would be written, Bern would seem a very odd choice. The last claim to fame by local side Young Boys was a lost semi final in the European Cup against Stade de Reims in 1959. However, the city deserves its name written in marble for being host to not one but two miracles.
The first was a predominantly German 'Wunder' - and probably a nightmare to the rest of the world - when their physical football overcame the stylish favourites of Hungary in the World Cup Final of 1954 , but it made the Wankdorf stadium into a mythical place. It was demolished in 2001 to make way for the Stade de Suisse, but the territory has lost little of its magic.
International football returned to the Papiermühlestrasse this month and wasted no time in inserting another famous chapter in European sporting history with two marvellous and sensational nights within a week.
The reigning world champions and the runners-up beaten by the Netherlands in spectacular style: let's call it 'the Orange Miracle of Bern' to distinguish it from Das Wunder.
I, along with all the other football fans in Holland, have spent the better part of the last four years criticising Marco van Basten for his sometimes freakish decisions. Little did we know what he was working on.
Coaches usually give the impression that they have everything under control. If they lose, they can pinpoint it to an obscure individual mistake, without which the game would have been in the bag and they always claim to know the final result long before anyone else had any idea.
Having seen both games in Bern, I strongly believe our national coach has found a new concept in using no concept at all. Of course, he has assembled what he believes could be a winning team, but there seems to be hardly any tactical plan behind it.
While every Dutch player has international experience and knows what to do, looks fit and eager, they all seems to be unhindered by any strategic or tactical guidelines. Judging by his goal celebrations, the coach is as surprised as anyone that it is such a resounding success.
In all seriousness Van Basten's input cannot be overstated though as he created an unsurpassed team spirit: Last week all players went out to diner together, which by Dutch standards indicates extreme unity.
Furthermore, he has turned over part of the tactical responsibility to the players themselves. After the rather awkward qualifying campaign Van Basten discussed the future tactics with his protagonists on the pitch.
They concluded to quit the two wingers system and experiment with three midfielders scheming behind one striker in the friendly against Croatia in February. Having won 3-0 it was clear that this was the way to continue.
This decision resulted in a break with the system that Johan Cruyff always championed as the preferred style for Dutch football. From a historical point of view he might be right that every Orange team should cherish the style that made the country famous, but it has also been the cause of much frustration as all these compliments were seldom converted into trophies.
Cruyff had been an advisor to Marco Van Basten over recent years, but this relationship spectacularly ended when they recently discussed the future of Ajax.
Cruyff was tasked with turning the club around following the incendiary finings of a management report into the club's failings. At a meeting between Cruyff and Van Basten, who takes over at the Amsterdam Arena next season, there were several disagreements, not least a difference of opinion over laying off several youth coaches.
The comeuppance was that Cruyff decided to return his mandate to the club and he and Van Basten have not spoken since.
At first this rift, which has been widely publicised in the media, seemed to be little more than an annoying showbiz item in the tournament build-up. But it has become more significant now as it illustrates a national coach marching on his own compass without any outside interference and enjoying considerable success and setting new standards as he goes.
In the final Group A game in Geneva Czech coach Karel Brückner was criticised for bringing a defender on whilst ahead in the game against Turkey. Only a week ago no-one would have questioned this, only the legendary Austrian Ernst Happel used to be bold enough to substitute a midfielder for a striker at such a time.
Against France Van Basten took away not one but two midfielders, Orlando Engelaar and Dirk Kuyt, when his team was almost succumbing to mounting French pressure. Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie showed just how well such an attacking pair of substitutes can work out.
Safety in numbers can be misleading; strengthening the defence by adding more bodies can create chaos at the back. So Van Basten's decision to add more depth to his attacking options by bringing the pace and running Robben was inspired and proved crucial to the victory over France.
For Van Basten, given that the Dutch rearguard is not the most daunting in the tournament, attack really is the best form of defence. So far Edwin van der Sar is doing excellently between the sticks and the back four are playing out of their skins, but even this would not normally be enough to beat two World Cup finalists.
However, the defence are working so hard that they beginning to create their own luck, with referee decisions going for them and world class strikers suddenly choking when clean through on goal.
The Dutch defenders are not very comfortable on the ball so they pass it as quickly as possible to any available midfielder, which has made the Dutch game very quick as a consequence. They are on the move all the time and play a one-touch passing game, which seems impossible for opponents to break down.
Avoiding dribbling and duels in midfield has eliminated most of the risk of losing possession and the sudden lightening-quick Dutch attacks against France and Italy has caused a dramatic breakdown of two ageing defences.
En route to the Miracle of Bern in 1954 Germany lost one of their group games with 8-3 to the very team they met in the final as they could afford to give some of their players a rest.
Holland could do the same against Romania, but football fans obviously hope they will just continue with these celebrations of football. You never know when the end will come.
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狗仔卡
發表於 2008-6-17 18:11:47
顯身å¡
發表於 2008-6-17 18:20:41
嘅話我都想
