The best players of Euro 88

My initial ideas:

I feel Adri van Tiggelen could be added as a full-back. It's difficult to know where to cut off with the Dutch team - including 11 of them would be over-doing it but I do think it was an excellent team effort with of course the star quality of Van Basten being crucial though. Maybe Van Tiggelen is just a player I'm inclined to rate highly, but certainly Euro 88 was a good tournament for him.

I read that Michel had a very good game for Spain against Denmark. It could be worth looking into his tournament generally. Obviously he was more famed for his play in World Cups, but maybe he would be a worth a place still.

Talking of Denmark, it's no surprise but I would also look into Michael Laudrup for perhaps a * rating. I know Denmark were a shadow of the 1986 team generally (albeit with a much closer end result vs Spain - reports indicate Spain had much greater dominance of the game than in 1986 though) and I don't think Laudrup was in the same form at that time generally or performed the same way individually. I read he was agressively marked vs West Germany and couldn't have a great effect on that game so the only really notable moment was his excellent goal vs Spain (I'm not sure Vialli eventually did a great deal more though for example). In truth, I'd wouldn't have him as a sure pick but still feel he would be worth investigating to the extent that's possible. I don't think I watched in full any of Denmark's games at the time and haven't done since.

Gullit's positioning is correct IMO but personally I wouldn't be sure Zavarov shouldn't be an AM rather than a forward. I know you had him among the AM's for your all-time positional countdowns comme but maybe you feel his role was more advanced than in 1986 for example. I do think both Protosov and Belanov were in the team at least in certain periods of Euro 88 (from memory including recent viewing etc - I haven't gone and checked before posting). Maybe Protosov himself is worth a place, and perhaps Alenikov too (he scored an excellent goal vs England and I remember it was a talking point that he was missing from midfield and used as a defender instead in the final - it was because Kuznetsov was injured wasn't it?) - I actually suggested he was left out of the 100 AM's list in favour of Susic in the History Group I remember, so this is a good opportunity for me to give him credit.

This shows all the goals btw (not the full story but does show key the key moments and the major contributions of the likes of Donadoni, Voller in terms of assists which might add to their claims to be included too; I'll try and find a version with commentary later):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mARI7f9ecKA
(Maybe a good aid for us to discuss the tournament with).

 

This is the mini-report that led me on Michel btw:
http://en.archive.uefa.com/competit.../season=1988/round=212/match=6/report=rp.html
It seems there are similar ones available for most games, by clicking the relevant link from the Euro 88 page on Wikipedia. It was only a few days ago I was looking at a few of them actually.

 

I wonder about the Italian defenders. Bergomi and Maldini made the All-Star team and not Baresi but it's not surprising that Rijkaard and Koeman would take the centre-back slots, and I've seen Kuznetsov suggested as the top centre-back of the tournament too so it would seem Baresi wouldn't get the highest rating if he was included.

 

The other mini-reports indicate that Michel was carrying an injury in the next two (unsuccesful) games for Spain btw, and that he was well marked by Maldini vs Italy. So maybe he is not a prime candidate overall.

I couldn't find a better version of highlights and goals but I did think I had viewed one on Youtube sometime (I'm sure comme is familiar with the goals etc though).

And it's Protasov not Protosov of course .

 

I remember the Italian defense looking very shaky against USSR and also West-Germany. Though in all fairness, the game against USSR is a modern day classic. A pity that this generation of Ukrainian players did not win a prize.

They also said that on the radio this week because it is of course the 25th anniversary. Don't follow it very closely TBH because most of the things are quite fresh. It moved me more when they said on on 26 May "today it is 20 years ago that Marco van Basten saw a sad end of his career." Followed by fragments of the match and radio commentator which sent a shiver through my spine.

Anyway, it seems that they made a statistical analysis of the team, the full results will be revealed in the weekend, and Van Aerle was surprisingly one of the best players. Personally I thought that Rijkaard was the backbone of the team plus Van Basten his heroics of course (they also said this on the radio: how he did things that cannot be spoiled by stupid refereeing etc.)

The most interesting, which I followed with closer attention, was the long segments about how the game was changed. Predictably, modern day players do not have a better touch and feeling of the ball but they are physically fitter, more resistant, quicker, agile and so on.

Another thing is, which also the NatGeo doc mentioned I mentioned a while ago, how the 80s were the last decade where football was "the people's game". They said that in the NatGeo doc (the one with Rush etc.) but also here it was said by 'experts' (journalists and other eminent figures) how footballers were back then way easier to approach, both for public and press. With less pre-arranged (processed by PR firms) interviews and so on.

Anyway, it is not on subject but that was good to hear and one of the only things I heard with attention.

Also posted here some things:
https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/all-star-teams-of-1986-world-cup.1979342/

 

OK, I listened that particular part back. Yes, it was said that football players were back then (and before) better approachable. It was the "people's game" and in that respect the comparison with cycling was made where "one can literally touch the cyclists" even though football never went that far.
One made a caveat though and said that (for example) in 1974 and 1978 they were also among the most open and best approachable teams, as a way to cope with the heavy security and otherwise grim conditions/measurements, so they were more than willing to have a (light) conversation with journalists and fans. A few other teams were already hard to approach and pretty much closed from the outside world. It is not representative to generalize these imprinted memories to a whole pre-1990s era; was the point.

It was also said that back then players did not have tattoos but mustaches as fashion statement

 

It is a bit offtopic but not a long while ago I saw these matches in long highlight form.





The first one looked as a difficult match for Milan but it was good to see those players again and to be fair, it is also good to see them when they did not make a 5:0 beating vs Real Madrid etc.

 

How are you going to put Bonner above Dasaev? The Russian keeper was the second best player of the tournament, a dominating performance in goal.

 

Thanks very much. Yes, I'd tend to think Zavarov might be better as AM wheras Gullit was mainly playing close to Van Basten IIRC from what I saw (though from a career perspective and partially for his peak AM makes sense since he wasn't often right up alongside his team-mate for Milan or the Dutch, including in Euro 88 to an extent - it was arguably a 4-4-1-1 setup often and also he was so versatile and played different roles very well; forward seems right to me for Euro 88).

Van Aerle was also a speedy outlet down the right so if his stats are good according to Puck's source then yeah he could be a good inclusion too.

 

Euro 1988 had a lot of good full-backs in action, I think. Hard to make a selection.

Gullit can be included in either category. Remember that he was originally the main man with Bosman up front (Michels also thought that Van Basten his ankle was a liability) but eventually Gullit became the support act of MvB. He worked his socks of without shining individually. It worked wonderfully well, while it did not work very well in the past (Gullit was at his best in a 4-4-2 one might say, Van Basten in a 4-3-3 with tight spaces and not a lot of meters to cover).

Btw, I read a piece by Radnedge in number 28 of the 'International football book' (1986). According to him, the reason for the lower level of Dutch football was the more excessive fouling and rough play in the league. Very intriguing to read. But he also predicted that it was on the rise again (and had already Gullit being asked to play for an official FIFA XI etc.).

 

I will post some more info this day (need to collect everything) but it has been figured out that Van Tiggelen had after Koeman and Rijkaard the highest number of completed passes at euro88 (of the Dutch team). Don't forget as well that the Van Basten wonder goal started with a good intervention by Van Tiggelen; his original man was Belanov but he dispossessed the ball from Khidiyatullin. That was smart fore-checking by him, as shown on TV here at the 25th anniversary program.

Van Basten also commented, he said this.

"

Interviewer: Tomorrow it is 25 June, that date should say something to you.

MvB: I think it was the final of the European championships right? I saw it on television...

Interviewer: The newspapers...

MvB: Yes, yes. It is a good time one might say, an appropriate anniversary.

Interviewer: Especially a Marco van Basten anniversary one might say.

MvB: Yes, I played a prominent part in that, I was told by others.
But no, look, it is very nice and it was an important tournament for me, and I received the luck to be an important player in the play.
Eventually you also know the sport is a team-effort and guys like - I bet you have also seen them passing by on television - Vanenburg, Koeman, Gullit, Rijkaard... those all took care of the end result and that it ended in such a party.
It is also still the only tournament that the Netherlands managed to bring home. Despite that we were always present at the past 30 years, there is still only one with success, as country. That is in itself something unique but at the same time disappointing and saddening. That we have only that.

Interviewer: But then it is 25 years ago. Some special feeling about it?

MvB: I have to say honestly, it sounds maybe a bit cocky, I have it seen very often, very often experienced again. It is all 25 years ago but.... You know, I found the most funny that the people.... Yesterday I also saw it on the sport show; there was an interview with two boys of the under-21 team... that boy of Feyenoord, the defender.

Interviewer: De Vrij

MvB: De Vrij indeed and Van Rhijn. And those had to search for 'who was he? Ah yes, Van Tiggelen'. So that also indicates how our generation fades slowly to the background. People grow older, become bold, grey, maybe fatter. That is what is going on.
It is really past tense, literally and symbolically.

Interviewer: But the part you had and then also the realization you almost quitted because Bosman was preferred [as striker]. Imagine if that had happened.

MvB: Yeah, that are 'what if' questions. I don't know how close it was but it was a consideration and thought because Cruijff advised it to me. 'You should not be abused as stand-by left-winger, you are way too good for that'. Eventually I made the mindful decision to join the group, to train with the group and prepare for the next club season, become healthier again. That decision caused a different chain of events as intended, in a good way.

"

http://nos.nl/video/522698-van-basten-vaak-genoeg-herbeleefd.html

 

OK, I'm finished with watching the show (had not seen it yet). A few things that are worth mentioning.

• According to the stats Frank Rijkaard was the best player, by a margin. He was also the only one of the 'big four' stars who was fit, not tired and not injured ofc. As said, also Van Aerle does very well according to the stats but it wasn't noticed at that time, they said, because a full-back was just a full-back. Of course, also Van Basten was great and Gullit doing fine; with Gullit working hard and Van Basten scoring great goals (indefensible goals, that also can't be ruined by some stupid ref, rough marker etc. - literally some unstoppable moves of which some resulted in a goal).
• It isn't expected that the Netherlands will ever win again a tournament. For that, football has changed too much in the past 15 years, in many ways. Many other countries have improved and, ironically, often bought Dutch knowledge, which strengthens the base over there but weakens it here. The conclusion: no, they will not win again.
• Netherlands was lucky against England, esp. when Vanenburg was subbed out for Kieft. The whole organization was gone but England failed to exploit the open right-side (for England the left-side). They just ignored the gaping hole and that would not happen today with all those data analysts, which shows one of the changes that have taken place. That was simply an enormous tactical error of Michels.

 

Guerin Sportivo team of the tournament Euro 1988

 

Guerin Sportivo worst team of the tournament Euro 1988

 

The great addition to Guerin Sportivo with their “Hit Parade” which ranked the top 10 best players.

The podium
1. Van Basten
2. Rijkaard
3.Mikhailichenko

 

And Guerin Sportivo Top 3 worst players Euro 1988

 

Ridiculous that Gullit is not among the first 10. That's absurd.

edit: someone like Jupp Derwall (unsuspected source) considered him the best and positively compared him to Maradona in 1986 (as a blend of team player and skill, as shown in the final match).

It is in this book.

https://www.antiquesportsbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/euro-88.jpg

 

Placement of Baresi and Maldini maybe also generous given their struggles in the semis. It was so difficult that it was included in the documentary about Maldini. His best match was the game against Spain, against W Germany also okay.

 

So who would you suggest instead of them ? And why do you think Gullit has been underrated in this competition ?

I’ve got the match ratings of this tournament using the same source so will see how they all fared.

 

GS Euro 1988 match ratings

 

Gullit was by the press voted as 2nd best in the competition, he was thoroughly impressive in the final. Coaches were impressed with his play for the team. It is nothing less than absurd he is out of the first 10.
Likewise, MvB deserves more than a 7 for his West Germany match (which many also did) It was in quality of play maybe his best match. It is an absurd grade.