Euro 2024: Dutch Display Total Football in Quarterfinal Charge: It was exquisitely simplistic football – the most difficult thing to emulate, Johan Cruyff. Xavi Simons was passed the ball by Jerdy Schouten, who was on the Dutch side of the centre circle. A pass that lacked both speed and force, yet it split two Romanian shirts perfectly, found Xavi Simons in the open space, and found the referee.
After deflecting the ball with his left instep and spinning to his right, the playmaker made a few touches and freed Cody Gakpo, who was scuttling on the left side. After cutting past his man and cutting in, he took a moment to compose himself before unleashing a fierce, low shot that went inside goalkeeper Florin Nita’s near post.
It was a throwback goal from a throwback performance, full of flair and finesse, pace and perfection (except in front of the goal), and a brief trip back in time to the wild 90s of Dutch football, with those extremely talented self-destruction artists. Originally, a three-man orchestra was the aim. However, the replays would not budge on the involvement of more personnel. The players on the right assisted in the goal’s creation by skillfully moving off the ball and diverting the attention of the defenders, while the men on the left actually scored the goal.
The instant Schouten handed the ball to Simons, Romanian left-back Vasile Mogos was forced to cover him while right-back Denzel Dumfries harried down his flank. As a result, Steven Bergwijn, a left winger, had room to swerve like a No. 10 into the centre of the box. Memphis Depay, who was clearly marked, was already sniffing around the goalie. The Dutch appeared to have a numerical advantage, but this was a mirage brought on by their superior position.
“Freeze frame” There was a gap in space where you could see Bergwijn just before Gakpo pulled the trigger. Therefore, the objective was more comprehensive than it initially appeared, incorporating Cruyffian concepts of positional rotation, adding a man, and winning one-on-ones. While not every move was straight out of the Total Football manual, there were plenty that would have pleased the game’s creators.
At least, in contrast to the group games, this was a vibrant, occasionally breathtaking performance. To the extent that a reporter confided in manager Ronald Koeman that Cruyff would have sobbed if he had witnessed their capitulation to Austria. His response was practical. “I was a member of his team for a long time, and we had worse games than we had against Austria, so I know he valued attacking football very much. Naturally, we are a proud country; we enjoy playing beautiful football and winning, but those things don’t always happen.
This was not a response to a single setback; rather, it was a response to the gloomy Dutch football that had been played for almost ten years. A newspaper headline said “Total Non-football” prior to the Euros. He was charged with “lack of ideas” and favouritism.
But at last, attacking football took place. The moment is perfect, the business-end is winking.
They had found their spark again from the beginning. Sharper moves, more seamless transitions, precise passing, enhanced communication, and more unrelenting pushing were all present. Adjusting the forward line a little bit helps. Bergwijn started the match on the right wing for the first time, and Dumfries’ comeback increased their threat from this position. The Romanian defence was severely damaged by the right-sided combination.
Bergwijn thus slides in and effectively moves up to No. 10. His glowing feet allow him to squeeze into narrow areas and take advantage of half of them, making him the ideal candidate to unlock low-lying blocks. The left side achieved all of the aims, but the right side’s industry also made a contribution.
However, assigning forward Simons to a more advanced position was a brilliant move. Though he is still only 21 years old and prone to missteps, he is Koeman’s most creatively inclined creator. A forward with versatility who could play on the wings as well as false 9 or No 10, he led the orchestra with the maturity of an experienced conductor.
Imagination and rapid thinking
Both objectives sprang from his foresight and fast thinking. Though on the other wing, his link-up play with Gakpo was similar to Arjen Robben-Wesley Sneijder tangos. However, he could have also been on the scoresheet if not for his over exuberance in front of goal. “In my opinion, he was the greatest.” Amazing in his drive, placement, and aggressiveness in winning the ball,” Koeman remarked.
Gakpo is the punch if he is the pulse. His objective was referred to as Turbo-To, or turbo hit, by a German tabloid. The bullet flew low, with a velocity of 125 kph. His quick cuts leave the defender clasping his boot in midair, akin to the swipe of a sharp knife. He’s a right-footed player who operates on the left, which adds to his intricacy while playing against the full backs.
He receives the ball on his right flank, pretends to drop towards the byline, then cuts inside to score. This is his famous play. Occasionally, he would score at the near post, and on other occasions, he would score at the far post by taking a few further feet inside or just beyond the penalty area. He would shoot high or low depending on the situation. Robben’s left flank. “He starts on the left side because he can really hurt the right full-back in a one-on-one situation,” Koeman would add.
The manager would go into detail about his traits. “He is powerful, has his attributes, and can go both inside and outside. He may be the most significant player to date based on his excellent play in this competition. Regarding the tournament’s co-top scorer with three goals, he stated, “I hope the remainder can reach that level.
His precision has increased. Seven of his eleven shots found the goal, and three of those were on target. Like the time he threaded a pass in a confined space for Donyell Malen to score, he produces goals as well. After entering the game as a substitute, the latter demonstrated his ability to score goals with two braces. The second goal was the culmination of a frantic run in which he cut past two defenders to unleash his thunderbolt.
The fact that they made 23 efforts during the game indicates their attacking mentality, but their poor finishing (seven off 64 for the tournament) is exposed by the fact that only seven of their shots were on goal and three of them struck the back of the net. The Dutch might become strong title challengers and a chip off the old Total Football block if their forwards could click that box.
