The thread for Ruud Gullit

Similar to that 1995 video I saw this now two days ago. End of the 1992-93 season, I think?



Good stuff!

 

An issue from Elf Voetbal this year (19 january 2024) investigated which amateur clubs have been the best 'deliverers' for Oranje. It speaks for itself, but I say it nonetheless again here, people who enroll at the (amateur section of) Ajax academy at the age of 6-8 or so do not count. There are always some border cases but I guess they have done this with an honest mind.



Number one is Gullit his former club DWS (in terms of professional clubs, he had always been leaning to Feyenoord - as mentioned before). I guess this might show how being a 'self made man' is always a matter of perspective. I don't know if it is a full list of notable players but they mention all the players with at least one call-up or cap.

806 players debuted in Oranje. Where do all these players come from? A dive into the amateur clubs who delivered the most internationals since 1945. We only take into account the internationals who spent their youth years in the amateur years of their clubs.

The top 15 since 1945

1. DWS (Amsterdam). Internationals (8): Spel, Van der Hoeven, Wiertz, Gullit, Rijkaard, Hasselbaink, Tete, Rosario

2. ASC SDW (Amsterdam). Internationals (8): Dräger, Jansen, Otto, Rob Witschge, Richard Witschge, Jerry de Jong, Andre Ooijer, Dave van den Bergh

3. ASV Blauw Wit (Amsterdam). Internationals (8): Bergsman, Wilders, Van Raalte, Mesman, Rijkaard, Bryan Roy, Mols, Trustfull

4. VVA Spartaan (Amsterdam). Internationals (6): Jongbloed, Van Duivenbode, Overweg, Boussatta, Lens, Schaken

5. Spartaan '20 (Rotterdam). Internationals (6): Venneker, Jetro Willems, Martins Indi, El Ghazi, Dumfries, Geertruida

6. Elinkwijk (Utrecht). Internationals (6): Vanenburg, Van Basten, Veldman, Vierklau, Afellay, Bazoer

7. Zeeburgia (Amsterdam). Internationals (6): Hulshoff, Menzo, Maher, Tete, Fosu-Mensah, Gravenberch

8. VV AGOVV (Apeldoorn). Internationals (5): Brusselers, Sturing, Berghuis, Kromkamp, De Zeeuw

9. VV DOS (Utrecht). Internationals (5): Van de Bogert, Cor Luiten, Tonny van der Linden, Hans Kraaij sr., Wesley Sneijder

10. SC BVV ('s-Hertogenbosch). Internationals (5): Kees Krijgh sr., Van der Sluijs, Saris, Huijbregts, Krijgh jr.

11. SVV Schiedam (Schiedam). Internationals (5): Steenbergen, Schrumpf, Van Schijndel, Romeijn, Loovens

12. HFC Edo (Haarlem). Internationals (4): Schijvenaar, Odenthal, Ferry Pettersson, Clasie

13. RKSV DCG (Amsterdam). Internationals (4): Van den Bergh, Van der Wiel, Schaken, Promes

14. Xerxes DZB (Rotterdam). Internationals (4): Wilkes, Moelijn, Villerius, Everse

15. Apeldoornse Boys (Apeldoorn). Internationals (4): Ressel, Berghuis, Sturing, Bosz

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Three clubs are on eight, but it probably it doesn't need a defense why Gullit his club is number one.

 

I'd argue it is unfair how Rijkaard has been reduced to a nothing in history while Baresi and Maldini are now top 20 players by default. How did Baresi play against Rijkaard between 1985 and 1995? The last two years? Classic.

 

I think Sampdoria is still interesting because he showed there what he could do with a 'lesser' team, in a league that was at a peak. Otherwise you can easily say 'he always played for the best/richest teams of his country since 1985' (yes, that also applies to Robben, but then you can always point to his win percentage for Chelsea, Bayern, and with/without sort of thing, or that him and Hazard has the most dribbles in a Real Madrid shirt, in a single game; plus, Bayern in 2009-10 wasn't always *that* good; that Schalke solo goal was without Ribery on the pitch). For a time Sampdoria was even 2nd in the table, after the 27th round (of 34) but they struggled towards the end (in results, if not level of play).

Him to Bayern Munich at a time when Matthaus was switching to libero would have been interesting. It is not unthinkable his career would last a bit longer in such a scenario. With 50% training he still looked quite good in 1997-98 (when he could be bothered to play or line-up himself). But his Italian wife, who now wants to have him in jail, can be thanked for this.

Let's start with the 1993-94 season then. For sake of consistency I continue with the same source, so not mix it up with what is on delpher or so (this newspaper is also on delpher, until 1995). It's a quality source and it is a source favorable, if anything, to Gullit (especially leaning to Sparta, but also Feyenoord certainly, and Gullit was sort of an adopted son).

AC Milan are no longer the sole rulers in Serie A

ROTTERDAM, 27 AUG. The best, most expensive, most prestigious football competition in the world, the Italian Serie A, starts on Sunday. Insiders claim that Internationale and Juventus are the main candidates to take over the throne from national champion AC Milan. This club is no longer the Dutch stronghold of yesteryear. Ruud Gullit, for years the face of Berlusconi's multi-million dollar team, left for Sampdoria. Frank Rijkaard, the driving force in midfield, returned to Ajax. Marco van Basten, the only Dutchman who did stay, will not be playing for the time being. Although the right ankle on which he was operated on eleven weeks ago is healing well, Van Basten is not expected to be available again until Christmas. Gianluigi Lentini, the most expensive footballer in Italy, is also unable to play for the time being. The midfielder is recovering from a serious car accident.

Although AC Milan became champions with a difference of four points, the club ended the previous season anything but flourishing. After the series of 58 matches without defeat (a record) was interrupted in the spring, Milan hardly managed to play any more sparkling games. In mid-March, the team with millions of players was still eleven points ahead of Inter. At the end of the competition, the city rival had caught up seven points.

The lost European final on 26 May against the controversial Olympique Marseille (1-0) is seen by many as the end of an era. An era that lasted six years and in which the European Cup I was won twice, the Super Cup twice, the World Cup twice and the national title three times. AC Milan must build a new team with the acquisitions Lelpo (Cagliari), the Romanian Raducioiu (Brescia) and the Dane Brian Laudrup (on loan from Fiorentina). The Croatian Boban and the Frenchman Papin, Milan's reserves in the previous season, will probably be part of Fabio Capello's new starting eleven.

Milan was still calm on the transfer market; how different was the fate of fellow city-dweller Inter. The number two of last season, who lost only one of the last 21 league matches without setting the world on fire, received valuable Dutch reinforcements. Coach Bagnoli bought Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk from Ajax for more than thirty million guilders. "With the arrival of the two Dutchmen in the lead, Inter has grown into probably the strongest club in Italy", is the opinion of national coach Sacchi, in 1987 the main founder of Milan's success. But in the practice campaign Inter was not yet able to impress.

Juventus, the record champion with 22 titles (against 13 for the two clubs from Milan), was not very active on the transfer market. Chairman Agnelli recently said that he did not think that million-dollar transfers were appropriate in times of economic recession. But the Fiat boss has it easy. With Vialli, Baggio, Möller and Paulo Cesar, "The Old Lady" has perhaps the strongest axis in the Italian league. To strengthen the defense, he did buy Fortunato (Genoa), Porrini (Atalanta Bergamo) and the talented Croatian attacker Zoran Ban from NK Rijeka.

Dangerous outsider in the highest Italian league is Sampdoria, partly due to the arrival of Ruud Gullit. "If he stays fit, he can lead the club to unprecedented heights", thinks Sacchi. Gullit is not the only newcomer at the 1991 champions. Sampdoria also signed midfielder Evani, also from AC Milan. In addition, the English international David Platt came to Genoa. At his old club Juventus, Platt usually sat in the stands due to a surplus of foreigners.

Lazio Roma also made a big splash on the player market. Aron Winter's club acquired goalkeeper Marchegiani from Torino and reserve striker Casiraghi from Juventus. Lazio management is concerned about English star international Paul Gascoigne. According to the medical staff of the Roman club, "Gazza" is only 50 percent fit. Moreover, the Briton is said to be overweight. Guiseppi Signori will miss the start of the season. The striker, Italy's top scorer last season with 26 goals, injured his right ankle in a practice match last week.

Genoa, who bought Marciano Vink from Ajax last summer, will probably not play a major role in the coming season. A place in the sub-top seems the highest achievable. Vink sustained an eye injury this week and will miss at least the first round of the competition. John van 't Schip is recovering from a hernia operation. Despite the three purchases of Foggia, Bryan Roy's club seems destined to play in the lower regions. New are attacker Stroppa (Lazio Roma) and defenders Chamot (Pisa) and Bucaro (Fiorentina).

Internationally, the Italian clubs will undoubtedly score high again next year. The country provides four UEFA CUP participants. In addition to defending champions Juventus, there is Internazionale, Lazio and Cagliari. In the European Cup II tournament, defending champions Parma and Torino will compete. AC Milan will once again play for the European Cup I. The Italian clubs can hardly do better than last season. In all European finals, an Italian participant was present. Juventus and Parma won their cup.

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(I am not sure if these brief individual highlights give the right impression, but better than nothing)

Gullit and Jonk make their debuts in style for their new teams

ROME, AUG 30. The less expensive of the two Dutchmen, Wim Jonk, had a dream debut for Internazionale. He scored a goal in the home game against Reggiani (2-1) and prepared the other. His compatriot Bergkamp played an inconspicuous and unhappy looking game.

Jonk tried to remain level-headed after the match despite all the praise. He said he realized that opinions about him would change completely if he played badly next Sunday. There were rumors before the competition that Jonk would be loaned to Udinese due to disappointing performances during the pre-season. Because of his performance yesterday, Jonk will not be able to play for another Italian club this season.

Ruud Gullit, now an old hand in Italian football, knows his stuff about these kinds of things. He has learned the hard way. He was often the hero at AC Milan, but also went through bad times in his six seasons with the red-blacks. Now he is at Sampdoria and he also had a fantastic debut at his new club. Just like Jonk, he scored a goal and an assist. Sampdoria, the national champions of '91, made an impression and won 2-1 at Napoli.

Gullit's best move resulted in the first goal. He cut past his direct opponent and gave a perfect cross to the Englishman David Platt, who headed in beautifully. Just before half-time, Gullit, playing centrally in midfield, made it 2-0 himself with a not so good shot from the edge of the penalty area. Napoli goalkeeper Giuseppe Tagliatela misjudged the ball.

Jonk scored for Inter after fifteen minutes from over thirty meters. It was not the first goal of the new season. That came from the German ever-present international Andy Moller, for Juventus against Cremonese. It was the only goal of the match. Champion AC Milan also won 1-0, at Lecce. It had been a long time since Milan had played a league match without any Dutch players in the line-up. Frank Rijkaard's replacement, the Croatian Zvonimir Boban, was the best man for his team. He also scored the winning goal in a magnificent way. AC Milan has not lost an away match for more than two years.
Aron Winter did not get further than 0-0 with Lazio against Foggia, who played with Bryan Roy. At Genoa (2-0 against AS Roma), newcomer Marciano Vink and John van 't Schip did not participate due to injuries.
On the first day of the Serie A competition, 21 goals were scored in nine matches. That is an average of 2.3 goals per match. Atalanta Bergamo-Cagliari (5-2) was the most productive match.

(as an aside, just for info: Dutch publications generally rated Möller higher than Hassler, despite the antics and infamous incidents the former had)



(Wiliam posted the full game earlier)

In Italy, Ruud Gullit played another excellent match.

GENOA, SEPT 6. Gullit's new employer has not lost a point, just like AC Milan, Torino and Parma. Thanks to a better goal difference, Torino is the leader in the Italian football league.
Gullit played a vital role in the victory that Sampdoria booked on Sunday over Piacenza (2-1). The Amsterdammer put in a lot of neat work and was at the basis of the first goal, scored by the Serbian Jugovic, after more than half an hour. Bucchioni helped Piacenza two minutes before half-time by passing their own goalkeeper. But just before the break, Mancini scored the winning goal.
Inter trails the unbeaten four by one point. Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk's club drew 1-1 with Foggia. Incidentally, the home team completed the match with ten men, after defender Caini was sent off.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7udfVwrX_s

Jonk-Bergkamp not in starting line-up at weak Inter

MILAN, SEPT 13. Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk were passed over in the Italian football league yesterday in Inter's match against Cagliari. It was Inter their first loss of the season.

When Inter conceded a goal one minute before half-time, Bergkamp was allowed to come on after the break. Jonk was in the stands. Inter lost 1-0 and are still far from the expected top form. City rival AC has still not conceded a goal. The national champion won 2-0 against Atalanta. Milan shares the lead with Torino, who beat Udinese 1-0. Sampdoria follows with one point. Ruud Gullit played excellently again for his new club Sampdoria, who won 2-1 against Lecce. Bryan Roy is also getting better and better. He scored the only goal of his club Foggia against Juventus, who did equalize.

Bosman still in Orange due to Gillhaus injury

ZEIST, 20 SEPT. John Bosman has been added to the selection of the Dutch national team for the World Cup qualifier in Bologna against San Marino on Wednesday. The Anderlecht striker replaces Hans Gillhaus, who injured his ankle yesterday in his club Vitesse's league match against Heerenveen. National coach Dick Advocaat made the decision shortly after midnight.
[...]
Former Dutch captain Ruud Gullit expressed his disappointment with Dick Advocaat in an interview with the Algemeen Dagblad this morning. He himself resigned from the national team after the international match against England, but according to the striker the national coach made no attempt to change his mind. Gullit: “I called Advocaat at the time and said: 'I think it's enough'. He immediately replied: 'I think you made the right decision and at the right time'. The national coach didn't even try to change my mind. That was the sign for me that I was no longer needed.”

According to Gullit, he is currently playing “really well” at Sampdoria. “We have to score a lot of goals against San Marino. But I think they don’t need me anymore.” Gullit stated in the same interview that he would really like to participate in the World Cup in the United States with Johan Cruijff as coach.

Advocaat takes away any illusions from Gullit; Oranje to play against San Marino tomorrow with four or five strikers

BOLOGNA, SEPT 21. Dick Advocaat's Oranje team will play the obligatory shooting match against San Marino tomorrow without the best Dutch player in the Italian Serie A at the moment, Ruud Gullit. That is not surprising because the football star with the dreadlocks haircut, who undertakes a kind of revenge expedition every week at Sampdoria against everyone who thwarted and wronged him last season, has himself turned down the national team on May 27.

Emotionally, Gullit has apparently not yet said goodbye to Oranje. Now that Advocaat's selection is preparing for the World Cup qualifying match against the amateurs of the dwarf state a few hundred kilometres from his current home in Genoa, he is venting his anger in the media. The door for a comeback in Oranje is ajar if Cruijff is in charge. It is a very vague promise, but in doing so he is showing his true colours in another respect. Because national coach Dick Advocaat, who dared to substitute him at Wembley against England when he kept tripping over the ball and his own legs, now appears to be the real motive for his departure. The tactics are not right and the players are being squeezed into a corset.

That position is at the very least at odds with statements he made in an interview in De Telegraaf on 29 May, with which he motivated the 'thank you' for the Dutch national team. At a stage when he also resigned from AC Milan, he said with regard to Oranje that he would “take a step back without any problems”. According to Gullit, Advocaat simply did his duty at Wembley. That was certainly not the last straw at the time. Listening to his body, he wanted to retire with his head held high. “If I don't do it, I'll be staging my own downfall. The Dutch national team is an enormous extra burden. Also considering the pressure that is always on the international matches. Moreover, I do not ignore the fact that a new generation is ready. Marc Overmars and Peter van Vossen have presented themselves as fully-fledged internationals. Public opinion has also indicated this.”

Words like this were fitting for a thirty-year-old professional who saw the end of his career approaching. On the other hand, an international with a great track record (85 unofficial caps, seventeen official goals and a European title as the crowning glory) did not deserve a quiet farewell. Advocaat may have drawn a line through his name too quickly, although he immediately denies having made the offer of a farewell match as Gullit claims. That's a misunderstanding. The KNVB also fails themselves by not making itself heard. With a clear gesture from the side of the association, Gullit would now, just like Cruijff in the seventies, no longer have people's minds occupied. He would have definitely forgotten about the Dutch national team.

But in a period when he is still unexpectedly reviving his waning career at Sampdoria at the age of 31, Gullit feels strong enough for a spiteful reaction. The Sampdoria acquisition was given a 7.5 by the Italian newspapers after the match against Udinese, which put him just behind the absolute sensation of Serie A, the Colombian Asprilla (Parma).

National coach Dick Advocaat immediately responded to Gullit yesterday in Bologna. Although that was done via the media. The coach from The Hague does not feel called upon to call the player, whom he stripped of the captain's armband after the Netherlands-Italy match due to critical statements, "because he himself declined and made himself not avalaible."

Advocaat is not impressed by Gullit's criticism of the Oranje's tactics. "An old story that has been going on since the European Championship in Sweden." There Gullit did indeed complain about the fact that he had to cover too many meters as a right winger. Since the backs move inwards, he also has to perform defensive tasks as an attacker in this concept. One of the consequences of the offensive concept. But not to the advantage of the heavy Gullit, who by the way now feels like a fish in water at Samp because he plays freed with number 4. Multiple different shooting outlets now emerge in Genoa. The defensive tasks are shared by others. However, it is logical that Advocaat does not want to adjust his system to a player who proved in London that he cannot consistently crack the pots at the international level.

The national coach therefore dispels all illusions from Gullit that things will be different in the future, when he says: "The system we are playing now was developed and bargained in consultation with the internationals. The qualities of the players, also the ones in the wider circle, determine the concept. I take that into account when selecting." In other words, a helping hand from the national coach is really not in the cards.

Against San Marino, just like in Utrecht (6-0), an extremely attacking Oranje can be expected with four or five strikers. Advocaat experimented yesterday with Overmars (right) and Roy (left) on the wings, while Bosman and Kieft took up the striker positions in the center. Advocaat: "You are forced to play like that. San Marino creates so little space in the penalty area that you can no longer play football. That's why there has to be a lot of supply from the wings to force an opening. I'll be happy if we score five or six goals. Norway didn't get further than 2-0 here either. In the second half, the team couldn't score anymore." Ruud Gullit will critically follow the Oranje's performances in his living room on the television.

 

Some more background then, with use of the 'Trouw' newspaper (I make a brief sidestep from the Rotterdam paper, which remains my primary source).

Dick Advocaat was assistant of Rinus Michels since 1990 and had been employed at the KNVB before (also in 1987 of the women's team, where he came across another certain figure from The Hague). You can compare it to the Joachim Low and Roger Lemerre situation. Some say, that like Low, Advocaat did the actual tactical work for the 1990-1992 period but that is a topic in itself.

Advocaat's first game as head coach was against Italy in 1992 (09/09/1992 - Bergkamp completely 'dominated' and outsmarted the Italian defense I'd say). There it was immediately a problem with Gullit:

"Gullit overestimated his own contribution to the Dutch national team this international season, by accusing Dick Advocaat of a devised "suicide tactic" after the friendly match in Eindhoven against Italy. One that is also too complex for the international level. Advocaat hit back hard. The new national coach stripped Gullit of his captain's armband. The player then declined the honour. Advocaat still believed in the capabilities of the tormented star. "If he reports, he'll be back in the game straight away", so Gullit was essentially given carte blanche. Encouraged by Frank Rijkaard, Gullit decided shortly before New Year's Eve that the moment of his comeback had arrived. In the mud of Istanbul he demonstrated enormous willpower, and he also scored a goal."

"Gullit spoke after the match against Italy about 'suicide football' and added: "We could just as well have lost 8-2." [...] It is well known that the 30-year-old Amsterdammer, who for years has been the best possible ambassador of Dutch football, is a sensitive, sometimes emotional and ambitious player. Being deposed as captain is almost unacceptable for the ego of the person Gullit. The same happened to Oranje's record captain Ruud Krol (captain in 45 international matches) almost ten years ago. When this libero played his 83rd international match with Spain-Netherlands on 16 February 1983, the captain's armband was for Feyenoord player Bennie Wijnstekers."

So, the 'problem' immediately started in the first game. Main bone of contention was that the system was too adventurous (thought Gullit, after years and years within the Italian washing machine), and the system is too complex for international football and qualification football.

I'll not bother people with the full story (until this moment in time) but Advocaat said this september 1993, before that San Marino match:

“That is nothing new to me. Ruud has been complaining for two years that he was not sufficiently covered in the back. But he should not forget that he was also involved in choosing the current concept that provides for a 3-4-3 or a 4-3-3 system. That concept was chosen in good consultation with the players, because it also suits those players. Ruud can also understand one thing quite well: as a coach I have to deal with the interests of the team and not primarily with the personal interests of a player.
[...] Ruud himself wants us to be capable of putting pressure on the opponent's goal when it is necessary. For this it is logical and it is a functional possibility to let the full-backs - can be Winter, can be De Boer - move inward and create a type of 3-4-3 or 2-3-5 if you like. In this coverage of the field Ruud is still able to provide passes from deep, as he did for example against Scotland in the European Championships, or move past his opponent and whip in a good cross. Or dribble inside and play the center-forward.
[...] It is for us not clever to build a whole team around a few players, a handful of players. Something can always happen that they cannot play or are not available for a qualifying game or the tournament. This is a gamble you cannot afford against the solid 'computer football' of Norway or against England. It goes without saying Ruud is good enough to play in Oranje and we all would like to have him here, but you are also dealing with that the other, newer players can play football and also in Norway they can play football if they have all set it in the right way.”

 

Well, 1990 was a failure (everything considered; also that some key players had a very long season behind them) but 1994 was already covered and discussed.

First in the group, then out against the eventual champion (and per Sofascore by a small margin the best team of the tournament, when excluding the 3rd place game). With uncertainty and doubt for the first two Brazil goals, even the linesmen, and then that Branco free kick (for which you have doubts). As I said, for me Italy their route has a more fishy smell but it's probably true Havelange interfered in the organization and officiating. It remains a low scoring sport.

Putting Wouters on Bebeto was not smart (Valckx did well vs Romario really). Substituting Rijkaard for R. de Boer directly after the 2-0... don't know. Frank de Boer was sorely missed, as so often honestly. De Goey, Rijkaard and some others were happy to go home. At the same time, they put Brazil successfully under pressure after going 2-0 behind and that in very unfavorable weather circumstances. They did that in an 'economical' and efficient way. So that's a point for Advocaat then. The average playing positions on Sofascore indeed show Wouters-Koeman-Valcks formed a back three, nominal full-back Winter moved inside to midfield, Rob Witschge was a sort of wing-back.

After the substitutes they formed a sort of 3-2-5. Jonk and Winter the midfield; Overmars, R. de Boer, Bergkamp, Rob Witschge and Roy the forward line (Roy was subbed in for Van Vossen). Where of course some of them could move deeper and provide balance. This is the phase Cruijff applauded in the earlier posted video ("finally a half hour of Oranje football").

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Good 'tactical' summary:

THE CONTROVERSY GULLIT-ADVOCAAT ON 4-3-3/4-4-2

On 23 May 1994, Ruud Gullit reports to the selection of the Dutch national team, which has settled in Noordwijk in preparation for the upcoming World Cup in the United States. National coach Dick Advocaat seems to opt for the 4-3-3 system in the practice matches. Gullit sees no benefit in this: it is far too attacking a concept to really have a chance at the world title. He does not want to be stuck against the touchline as a right winger. Moreover, in Gullit's view, an overly offensive style of play cannot be maintained for long in the oppressive heat that awaits the Dutch national team in America.

Gullit is much more in favor of the more conservative 4-4-2 system, as we learn from part 4 of Football History by Frans van den Nieuwenhof. In his book Forza Olandesi. The adventures of Dutch footballers in Italy: from Faas Wilkes to Wesley Sneijder, Roberto Pennino writes that Advocaat had not consulted Gullit about the tactics to be followed at the World Cup, and when Advocaat remarks that he determines the tactics and no one else, Gullit does not want to conform and makes his decision: he pulls out shortly before the tournament. He does not go to the World Cup and returns to Milan empty-handed. [my comment: it was maybe not helpful that Gullit himself was often not available, such as the autumn of 1992, and then mid-1993 announced his farewell at the same moment as his farewell from Milan; Gullit was possibly not involved in everything while Advocaat consulted, mediated and bargained with his players about the 'system' and "concept" to be played]

In the biography of Dennis Bergkamp by Jaap Visser and David Winner it is said that the media were convinced that Gullit had urged the national coach to play a frugal style with himself in a free role. 'Gullit', says Bergkamp himself, 'wanted the Dutch team to play more Italian football after the 1990 World Cup, with a large defensive block and a few attackers in front of them, free guys. But in 1990 Michels opted very emphatically for the Ajax system: 4-3-3, with a deep midfielder as a shadow striker behind the centre forward, or 3-4-3, with a diamond in midfield. Advocaat maintained that. There was a clear structure and he did not want to let go of this structure, to give Gullit his way. Certainly not when we were already so deep into the preparation for the World Cup in 1994.'

In The Football Gods of England, Eimer Wieldraaijer writes that at the time, no one in the Dutch national team, which was traditionally dominated by Ajax players, understood or wanted to understand Gullit. But there was also no one who could say that Gullit's departure from the training camp came as a bolt from the blue. Gullit had always advocated 4-4-2. When Michels complied with his captain's wish in 1988, there was immediate success through winning the European Championship. Gullit had never felt at home and wedded to a 4-3-3 formation and had made no secret of it. [my comment: yes, but in Sofascore we can see now this was the team with the highest margin to #2 ever, and that against a strong set of opponents; it is open to debate how 'defensive' this 4-4-2 really was, but Gullit would probably say USA '94 had/has dramatically different weather conditions, the base camp and stadiums Oranje was assigned to]

In 1988, the Netherlands played their only won final at a European Championship or World Cup with a sliding last man in a 4-4-2 system – without wingers and with one deep striker (Van Basten) and another striker (Ruud Gullit) around him. With so-called 'operational zones' left and right up front, which were deliberately left free so that strikers, midfielders and defenders could penetrate there in attack, according to Arthur van den Boogaard (in Zo spelen wij. Nederland in vier twaalf sprookjes voetbalwedstrijden ).

The term 'operational space' was coined by Michels. This is a free space in front of the ball. The ball can be played there for a player who can develop an attack from behind the ball or from the centre to the free side to create a scoring chance. The operational spaces on the sides can be played with deep passes to 'send away' teammates, as Ben Crum defines this tactical instrument as part of the field occupation in his book 16 Million Scouts .

The 4-4-2 system that the Dutch team used during this European Championship was, according to Ronald Koeman, a realistic solution: 'That tournament is often cited as a success of the Dutch School. I see it differently. At that time, we played without classic wingers, from a 4-4-2 formation. That was a realistic way of playing football that suited the players we had at the time. As a coach, I had to learn that: the players determine the way of playing, not the other way around.' (Source: Patrick Bernhart, Koeman's choices. The success formula of a top level trainer ).

Rob Siekmann - Author of The Dutch School of Total Football. History and analysis: a literature study , 20/10 Publishers (2021)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/de-controverse-gullit-advocaat-over-4-3-34-4-2-20-10-uitgevers/

 

Gullit is not available for qualifying matches

GENOA, SEPT 25. Ruud Gullit will not be available for the decisive international matches of the Dutch national team in the run-up to the World Cup in the United States, against England and Poland.

He emphasized this yesterday in Genoa. Gullit, who declined the honor of international four months ago, opened the door to Oranje last weekend, but the possible return only applies to the final round in America and if Cruijff is the coach then. The footballer does not intend to contact Dick Advocaat. The current national coach said on Monday that Gullit should do so if he wants to return. After all, the footballer has said farewell. Gullit will not take any initiative for the time being. Only when qualification is a fact can we talk to him about a possible return under Cruijff. "If he wants me then, that is."

Internazionale remains in the sub-top

ROTTERDAM, SEPT 27. Internazionale remains in the sub-top of Italian football. Thanks to a converted penalty by Bergkamp and a goal by Ruben Sosa, Piancenza was defeated 2-0. For Bergkamp it was his second league goal.

In Sampdoria-Parma (1-1), Asprilla once again played a leading role. With a beautiful long-range shot, hit by a defender of the home team, the Colombian equalized after Lombardo had put Sampdoria ahead. It was Asprilla's sixth goal in the last three matches. Ruud Gullit played very actively and bright for Sampdoria again and came close to scoring several times. (Reuters/ANP)

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Here a column. It is not included because it is (fully) accurate - I don't think it is - but because of showing how Gullit was covered and how opinions are shaped.

Beautiful madness

[column - Hugo Camps, a Belgian] Why does happiness in the Netherlands always have such a high barbed wire content? Oranje wins 7-0 against San Marino and it is still not good. The excellent play of Koeman, Wouters and Bosman was hardly noticed. A congratulatory telegram for the national coach was also not possible. This football nation cannot cope with success, this people have no life without self-hatred. Where it is quiet, shots must be fired. An often noncommittal atmosphere of rebellion has been raging around the Dutch national team for years. In commotion, intrigue and whining, Oranje is far ahead of the [political party] VVD.

What could be behind the campaign-like call for Gullit? It cannot be the logic of fear in anticipation of the decisive match against England. Ruud has lost his status as a general in the tricolor shirt. Both in Italy and in Sweden he completed his own disillusionment. And the few pirouettes that lay between them had the efficiency of a sofa spectacle. The momentary footballer who could decide a match on his own with his splitting rushes was dead.
The fact that Gullit has not missed a match at his new club Sampdoria is now being magnified into a metamorphosis. Newspapers and weeklies are cheering these days that the trance player par excellence is back in the form of his life.
Oh Sampdoria. Platt, who did not come off the bench at the old Juventus, has also scored a few goals in Genoa. Gullit has forced a free role at Sampdoria. Very clever: that makes a difference in the image. In a free role, any footballer with a bit of talent and experience can still parasitize on the optical illusion for a long time. Marbles in space, always good for an ovation.

The call for Gullit follows an extra-sporty sound path. It expresses a deep longing for charisma and mystery. Especially now that Bergkamp is also playing football like a broken reed and Rijkaard is playing to the rhythm of a lively funeral procession, the Dutch national team looks like a collection of WAO-ers in shorts. De Goey is the exponent of that. When I see him between the goalposts, there has to be shag and beer on the table and I always want bacon and eggs the next morning. The gray veil that makes PSV so ugly, even in their faces, also hangs over Oranje. Advocaat's current selection lacks the genius who can fulfill the dream of the people. Dickie himself does not have that ambition either. He is already very happy if the people around him remain friendly and polite. Life has not blessed this good man with a rustling presence.

Advocaat in a raincoat is almost as sad as a blown-over corner flag. The distance between the people and the gentlemen of Orange has become too small. That is why people are longing for Gullit now. In the past, he stood for primal power and legend and for atomic flights of fancy, high above the stew. Football is there to let bigwigs, journalists and legions share in the secret of the gods. Bergkamp, Jonk and Kieft can no longer create that illusion. So back to the beautiful madness of the past.
There is something else: the atmosphere of intrigue is inherent to a polder landscape where so little happens that the personification of evil remains as the only sensation. The nostalgic appeal to Gullit is full of reckoning and venom. There are still football philosophers walking around who feel offended in their academic honour by the prominent presence of a true potato eater like Advocaat in the world they have colonised. There are also those who would like to cut Gullit down one last time. It is always a bonus when a historic failure can be tied to the head of a star. The wild angel may not dwell long enough on that prospect of a free fall, in the euphoria about the battle won with his sloshing knees.
The most strange thing in the miserable intrigue surrounding Ruud Gullit is the suggestion of Willem van Hanegem. The Feyenoord coach suggested sending Rinus Michels as a shuttle diplomat between the footballer and Advocaat. Michels a diplomat? Is Van Hanegem drinking? It is getting too crazy for words. Let Michels just hang out next to Duys at the Grand Gala du disc, let Gullit play football in Italy for another year; and, especially Willem: leave Advocaat alone.


Gullit and being right

[Column Herman Kuiphof - the 1974 final match commentator; "they tricked us again"] Wednesday 13 October will be the day: the Netherlands must beat England - or at least draw - to make the American dream come true. I will conveniently assume that the Poles will not achieve the rare feat of winning all three of their remaining matches.

But even if the battle is between the Netherlands and England, we shouldn't even think about a draw, because then we'll all be watching a horror movie with the motto: how many goals will the British score against San Marino? I refuse to experience an evening like the one in 1983 with Spain-Malta again. Your mind wouldn't accept it, but your gut feeling told you that the Spaniards would score just enough to reach the final round with the authorities looking the other way. I'd rather play cards with the neighbours (as the then national coach Kees Rijvers did in desperation). When I heard that, I spontaneously got pimples all over my body, followed by a fit of rage that resulted in the most hateful piece I've ever written. I don't want to see a repeat.

What the national coach should have done is the following: pick up the phone, call a number in or around Genoa and ask Ruud's influential wife in the best possible Italian whether the respected footballer is at home. And whether he would like to interrupt his activities for a positive conversation with Zeist. And if Advocaat had lived up to his name [Advocaat means 'lawyer' in English], the whole affair would probably have been resolved within five minutes. "Ruud, I hear that you are in great shape and would like to play for me again. Welcome and we will cover what has been with a thick layer of sand. See you later at the training camp." That is what I call applied psychology. No one was harmed, everyone was extra motivated. Top football is completely wrongly a world of bold statements and declarations, statements that should not be kept. Fourteen days later everything is different again and you are stuck with that spicy opinion. A sublime Gullit, in the beautiful autumn of a magnificent career, naturally belongs in the Dutch team. Perhaps not against San Marino, but certainly in the decisive battle against an England armed to the teeth, see it as an extension of warfare, and led by the Germans.

To a certain extent, Dick Advocaat's reluctance is understandable. He has not been in the saddle for very long and certainly does not want to play the role of L. Rozewater for himself and the angry outside world. Let him now realize that this need not be the case if he follows the right path. If everything remains as it is, Gullit will remain in Genoa next Wednesday and the coach will be proven wrong by the way in which he is right. That is a rather profound remark, which perhaps should be read again.


Bergkamp can prove Gullit wrong

NOORDWIJK, 9 OCT. The interests at stake in the Netherlands-England match next Wednesday are almost too many to mention. A loss for the Dutch team means elimination and a draw leaves them with only a theoretical chance of qualifying for the World Cup in the United States.

Apart from the business community, which always hopes to get a piece of the pie at a major tournament and likes to support the Dutch national team during such a period, those directly involved also have their own interests. As far as national coach Dick Advocaat is concerned, the charged duel is interesting for his conduct record. If the Netherlands qualifies for the World Cup, one of his goals, a contract with a top club, will come closer.

For a number of players, the tournament offers the last chance to perform on the highest stage once more. These are Rijkaard, Wouters, Ronald Koeman and the admittedly absent Van Basten. They will probably be too old to participate in the European Championship in England in 1996. Their international careers will come to an inglorious end when the Dutch national team goes down in De Kuip on Wednesday.

That is why the ranks are completely closed on the eve of The Duel, which can also be called a clash of two football styles, at Oranje. The Cruijff followers in the media have tried in vain to sow discord by means of a Gullit lobby in recent weeks. Where the individual is important and a system is not a person. Apart from a clumsy and unnecessary fax, in which he asked Gullit for clarification - a blemish on his actions - Dick Advocaat remained proud in this barrage.

The experienced players in his selection rallied behind him en bloc. Gullit's criticism of the concept, in which he himself can no longer function, is not shared by players such as Koeman, Rijkaard and Wouters. As a right winger, Gullit, who is now making a splash at Sampdoria, would like to play with a full-back behind him.
[...]
Gullit also accuses Advocaat of having adapted the system too quickly to the duo Bergkamp/Jonk. This entailed a few changes, especially in midfield. In contrast to his heydays with the national team, Gullit is however not constantly involved.

Advocaat emphasized yesterday in Noordwijk, where Oranje gathered for the first training session, that the current game concept was created in consultation with a delegation of internationals. Gullit himself was involved in that. But also other experienced players such as Ronald Koeman, Wouters and captain-in-exile Van Basten. The deployment of a right back against teams with two strikers seemed undesirable for all involved. Because such a player has no opponent for a large part of the match. His task can better be taken over by a midfielder who provides the attack with impulses.

Advocaat could have had Gullit operate behind the strikers, given his current form. But then he would have to sacrifice Bergkamp, which seems like a waste of time. The ex-Ajax player may not have found his best feet at Inter Milan yet, but he often scores a goal in Oranje. [...] In the confrontation with England, there are opportunities for him, given the slow and sometimes clumsy central defenders. It's quite possible Bergkamp will at least score one goal. Furthermore, it would be going too far to completely adjust the system to a player, Gullit, who himself resigned in May and then stated that younger players should be given a chance.

Advocaat was irritated by the criticism this week. He thinks that he is gradually being treated unfairly. “Until recently, I still thought the criticism was real. You know that as a national coach you are being watched closely. But the arguments that are used have to match the facts. The media in England left no one intact after the lost international match in Norway. Now you see that malicious forces are together.” However, he is not too concerned about the "pinpricks" from Barcelona. “Cruijff has been criticizing for fifteen years. If he has nothing more to say, that would be a bad thing. It keeps us sharp, it is his role. By the way, I don't always understand what he means. If Johan can make some things clear, I might still be able to do something with it.”

The Hague native will strive for the right balance between 'footballing ability' and physical strength in his team in the coming days. The latter was something the Dutch team lacked at Wembley. "But the English also showed against Poland that they can play on the edge of what is permissible. That's how they managed to intimidate the opponent."
With Erwin Koeman in the ranks, the Oranje selection has gained a bit more body. According to Advocaat, however, the PSV player was preferred over Rob Witschge, because the latter “is clearly not in the best shape. While Erwin does show plenty of aggression every week.” Kieft did not receive an invitation because he is no longer a full-front player at PSV and, by necessity, mainly focuses on the build-up in midfield.

Whoever is ultimately fit to play in England, the Dutch will have to be formidable on two fast counter-attacking strikers. It is obvious that Van Gobbel - despite his criminal case in the Helder affair - and Frank de Boer will be the man-markers in the centre. But the composition of the forward line is much more interesting. Advocaat can station Bosman in the centre and Roy or Ronald de Boer on the left, Overmars on the right. Another variant could be: Ronald de Boer in the centre, Roy on the left. The currently slightly injured Ajax player is stronger on the ground than Bosman. In the air, the Anderlecht player will have a hard time against the strong Englishmen.
Advocaat has a few more days to find the key to success. In all constructions Bergkamp will have to be eager to prove Gullit wrong. He can now show that the system takes into account his and Jonk's characteristics.


Sphinx looks over the shoulder of the "Little General"

NOORDWIJK, 11 OCT. At the KNVB sports centre in Zeist, not only the ghost of Rinus Michels wanders around, the Sphinx is also regularly spotted in person. The General as Dick Advocaat's prompter?
[...]
The former coach of Ajax and Barcelona, among others, also always refused to make concessions to his game plan for the benefit of one player as national coach. The word 'kneeling' did not exist in his vocabulary. Not even in the interest of Oranje. Just think of the Ronald Koeman affair, who interfered once from Barcelona with the conservative style of play in his eyes and was kept out of the team for the next international match.
[...]
Advocaat laughs off the suggestion that Michels advised his successor in the decision not to approach Ruud Gullit for Oranje. “I didn’t need Michels for that. I never doubted myself in this affair. Moreover, I wasn’t in the Netherlands when the controversy started, but in Norway with the UEFA youth team. It is true that Michels can always give his opinion in a very nuanced way.”


Nothing about Bergkamp betrays what is going on in his mind

ROTTERDAM, 14 OCT. Dennis Bergkamp's face rarely shows any traces of emotion after an important football event. Whether he is internally dealing with joy or disappointment, his face retains the same expression. It is not a poker face, but rather a form of shielding himself from the outside world. It is a façade. What he has to deal with is nobody's business. He must have thought so last night too. Stoically, almost dreamily, he stepped out of the dressing room with his Inter football bag. Nothing about him betrayed what had been going through his mind that evening.

He must have had mixed feelings. Because if there was one player under pressure, it was him. The gifted talent who had to find the path of most resistance at Inter. He did not want to succeed at the hand of Marco van Basten at AC Milan. Or under the tutelage of Johan Cruijff at Barcelona. He chose a club where he himself hopes to achieve something; a series of successes with which he can soon be associated. However, Inter and Bergkamp still have to get used to each other in all respects. Only in the Dutch national team does it become clear how much his game suffers from this. He failed hopelessly against the insignificant San Marino. Although he was given little space to show his specialty, the dribble.
[...]
And then a few weeks ago there was the story of Ruud Gullit. The embittered 'avenger' of Sampdoria let it seep in that Advocaat had adapted his concept very quickly to the duo Bergkamp-Jonk.
For Bergkamp, last night was the moment to remind everyone that he can indeed follow in the footsteps of Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten, to be of that level. In front of a full Kuip and tens of millions of TV viewers around the world.
[...]
He came out of his shell for a moment when his opinion was asked about Gullit, who had also involved him in the controversy in recent weeks. “The annoying thing is, when you read something like that, you are powerless. I am not asked anything at such a moment. Problems were outlined that were not relevant to the team. More than one person tried to create conflicts at the wrong time. Fortunately, you are professional enough that you do not get involved. Moreover, I only have to deal with the national coach. As long as he trusts me, there is nothing wrong.”

Bergkamp took a bit of revenge last night, on himself and on others. He played far below his level, but in the end only that great second goal counts. He will get a second chance against Poland. That does not apply to Ronald Koeman and Rijkaard. Both are suspended for their third and second yellow cards respectively that they received from the German referee Assenmacher.
[...]
In the first half, referee Assenmacher disallowed a goal from him. Wrongly, because when Ronald de Boer's pass was sent, he was at least a meter in front of the last Englishman. "I also got a push in the back, which made it look like offside," suggested Rijkaard, who failed twice in the second half in front of goalkeeper Seaman. Rijkaard refused to daydream about the World Cup. "I live from week to week. I still have to be selected for the World Cup. I agree with Advocaat that a 'name' should not count."

The national coach who decides on that could be Cruijff, with whom Rijkaard had one clash at Ajax. Most players are looking forward to working with the Barcelona coach. Like Gullit, who is linking his return to it. Or will the star be persuaded before the match against Poland? Rijkaard: “Ruud's decision is made, isn't it? We've talked about his problems with the concept together. If you meet Gullit's wishes, Advocaat would have to change the entire team. Make no mistake, at Sampdoria he plays in a team that keeps six men behind the ball. Then a player like him has no or a different defensive task. That plays very differently from the Dutch team.”
[...]
The Dutch top referee Mario van der Ende wondered why [referee] Assenmacher did not show a red card for that, but only yellow. Koeman himself: “He could have given a red card, I agree. But I only wanted to unbalance Platt. He immediately dived to the ground, definitely.”

One whistle of love

[Column Hugo Camps, again] The Netherlands and Rotterdam has lost an last article of faith. Until last Wednesday, hatred of the Germans was a decree from the womb. Those who failed to fulfill their sworn mission were no longer really participating, certainly not in the artistic corridors. More polished minds who rejected feelings of hatred as an embarrassing primitivism, were still caught in a cult of discomfort towards Germany. Often floating on a goulash of fat jokes and malicious caricatures about the authoritarian Prussians. Or even sadder: with the destructive triumphalism of the Büchmesse cackling.

The right to hate the Krauts was whistled away by Mr Assenmacher on Wednesday night in the Kuip. The German referee single-handedly kept the Dutch national team alive as a paradise myth. No penalty and no red card for Koeman?
[...]
Not Bergkamp, not Koeman, not Roy, the honourable Mr Assenmacher lifted the Netherlands into the World Cup. So there are also good Germans. Could it be that Jan Wouters had sharpened the referee's nobility a little during the match? Twice I saw the midfielder swerving around Assenmacher like a doped bat. Cursing from one corner of his mouth. Few footballers can curse as intelligently as Jan Wouters. Moreover, his rage has something endearing about it. That is of course because of that beautiful democrat face. You can still see that Wouters plays for his wife and children, for a sandwich with toppings. He looks like Nobby Stiles who I always imagined riding through Manchester on his bike. Lunchbox under the bungee cords. Jan Wouters is on his way to becoming a beautiful wreck, which is something that few footballers are given.
[...]
Because Orange is the last national myth after Anne Frank, Assenmacher's gift to the Dutch national team takes on the character of a Wiedergütmachung for the entire nation. Football, as was also evident this Wednesday, is the only national activity that can provoke the romantic madness for a collective élan. Orange as the roof of good-natured nationalism. And, given the successive World Cup qualifications, more reliable in hiding than God and politics.
[...]
The revenge on Cruijff, Gullit and a few journalistic contract killers tasted too sweet. Advocaat played the great general for a moment and he better not do that. Only with the optical illusion of the misunderstood schlemiel can Dickie continue to bluff the whole lot.
[...]

Ronald Koeman not suspended against the Poles

ROTTERDAM, 16 OCT. Ronald Koeman, who received a yellow card in the international match against England last Wednesday after he knocked over David Platt who had broken through, will be allowed to play in the Poland-Netherlands match on 17 November, the last qualifying match for the Dutch national team for next year's World Cup in the United States. A spokeswoman for the world football association FIFA confirmed this yesterday.

Koeman received his third yellow card against England in this World Cup cycle. After his second "yellow" (against Turkey), according to FIFA regulations, a one-match suspension followed, which meant that the FC Barcelona defender had to miss the home match against San Marino. The third yellow card has no direct consequences. If Koeman receives another yellow card, for the fourth time, he will again be banned for one match. According to the KNVB, the rules of the European Football Union (UEFA) and those of FIFA were confused by the officials in charge on Wednesday evening. This is why the misunderstanding arose.
[...]
His coach Johan Cruijff stated from Barcelona that Ronald Koeman "was lucky not to get a red card for his foul on Platt. However, at the important moments his class was decisive. Ronald is a class player and a born winner."
Johan Cruijff remains reserved in his statements about the Dutch national team. Even now that qualification for the world title fight is near. "At the moment my interests lie with Barcelona, where I can have every day a piece of influence. From the sidelines it is always easy to think you'd do it better."

In the leading Catalan newspapers, Cruijff nevertheless briefly commented on the success of the Dutch national team. Of course, he made a few comments. “The Dutch team’s game was not good. Rather bad. But that is not important. It was about the result. We should be very satisfied with that. The fact is that we are still one point away from qualifying.”
Cruijff does not want to talk about the final round yet. In principle, he is the boss in America, although there is no definitive contract yet. That is why he does not want to say too much about the Gullit affair, for example. "But in the hypothetical case that I would be a national coach and Gullit is available and in shape, then I would probably select him. There is a system, but a system is not a person with feelings. The person makes and creates the goals. Like Romario, like Stoichkov, like Gullit."




Gullit top scorer after beautiful goals

TURIN, 25 OCT. Ruud Gullit is now the joint top scorer in the Italian league with six goals after his two goals against Torino. The Sampdoria striker scored the second and third goals for his new club, who won the away match 3-2. Gullit's first goal was particularly beautiful. He headed a cross from Lombardo hard into the far corner. Next week, the Dutchman will play against his former employer AC Milan, who drew 1-1 with Juventus yesterday. Parma now shares first place with Milan. The winner of the European Cup 2 won 1-0 against Reggiano.

 

Sorry, had no time today to continue. Tomorrow I will try!

What he did at Sampdoria was covered here, surely:

 

Internationals want to go to World Cup with Dick Advocaat

ROTTERDAM, 27 OCT. A large part of the selection of the Dutch national team wants to go to the World Cup football in the United States next year with Dick Advocaat as national coach. With or without Johan Cruijff, with whom the previous section board-Van Rooijen has made an agreement in principle. In the television program Nieuwe Koeien of Veronica last night, Dennis Bergkamp, John de Wolf, Frank de Boer, Frank Rijkaard, Ed de Goey and interim-captain Ronald Koeman expressed their support for Dick Advocaat, who in their eyes should not be missing during the World Cup as coach of the Dutch national team. Jan Wouters has aired this opinion at an earlier stage.

The Hague coach, however, is only contracted for the qualification tournament and has so far indicated that he is not interested in the final round. On the evening of the Netherlands-England match, Leo Beenhakker, the manager of the 1990 World Cup, advised him to skip the tournament if the players choose Cruijff. The general opinion of the mentioned internationals is, however, that Advocaat has prevailed in difficult circumstances and deserves to go to the World Cup. From Turkey, where he is attending the international match between the Turks and Poland this evening, the national coach responds: “We now have a good chance to qualify and let's not spoil it by discussing this subject. But I think that the KNVB should honour its agreement and, if we qualify, first consult with Cruijff.”
[...]
In Nieuwe Koeien, Bergkamp added last night that it would be ideal if Cruijff and Advocaat both take on the coaching. In Sport International he says further: “We should sit down together. With all the important players, the core group. I would like to know what everyone thinks about it. And then in such a way that it is not immediately announced like last time (before the 1990 World Cup in Schiphol Hilton, ed.). The captain should take the initiative [that was Van Basten, still; or does he mean Koeman?]. And he can in turn call on the people he thinks are necessary. If he asks me, I dare to talk about it.” Advocaat on this: “It would not promote concentration on the match. I also do not think that what Dennis wants will happen.”
[...]
To Gullit's suggestion that there is criticism of Advocaat among important players, Bergkamp replies: "I wonder if that is true. In any case, I am very happy with Advocaat and others are happy too. I also think that he was treated very badly before the international game." And: "The fact that things sometimes went less well was not primarily the coach's fault."
[...]
Karel Jansen, board member of technical affairs of the professional section of the association, refuses to take a position for the time being. He also does not respond to the demands that Cruijff is already hinting at, such as calling in all his assistants at Barcelona, Tonnie Bruins Slot, for the match analyses and adding a doctor from Nou Camp to the medical staff of Oranje. Which can be seen as Cruijff and the players wanting to have the keys of the KNVB in their hands. Jansen does mention a “tight schedule” so that the appointment of the World Cup coach cannot be delayed too long. “For the time being, we as the section board will wait until we have qualified. Then we will look further. That is also the agreement we made with Cruijff in August. After Poland-Netherlands, we will pick up the thread again. I do not want to respond to all those reports from the market place. We will take the opinion of the players into account in the assessment.”

(I think: Koeman had possibly in his mind what happened after qualification for the 1990 World Cup. Qualification was ensured, in a qualification group with West Germany, finishing 1st in the group, and the players 'sacked' Thijs Libregts because they thought he wasn't good enough. Then the soap series started, with players voting for Cruijff as manager, Rinus Michels mad, etc. You can also think: Libregts managed us to qualify, ahead of Germany, lets do it with Libregts - who was like Advocaat a bit of a company man maybe)

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'The power of FIAT explains the Juventus penalties'; AC Milan haven't been awarded a penalty in nine months

ROME, OCT 28. How much politics is there behind a penalty? A lot, the coach and board members of AC Milan shout in unison after the penalty that gave great rivals Juventus the lead on Sunday night at the San Siro stadium. A heated exchange of words has broken out between the two top Italian clubs, with less focus on football than on politics, economics and television.

“Juventus have always been very strong politically,” says coach Fabio Capello, referring to the economic and political power of Fiat, the company behind Juventus. That, he says, explains why Juve have had five penalties in the last nine games, while Milan have been waiting nine months for a referee to put the ball on the spot. Nine months is enough to bring a child into the world, says Adriano Galliani, the man in charge of day-to-day management at Milan, with mock desperation.

The response from Turin came immediately. “If it is a penalty, the referee should give it,” said Giovanni Trapattoni. “And besides, Milan’s weight is not bad either.” Juventus have long been angry about the TV coverage of football on the three commercial channels of Silvio Berlusconi, the president of Milan. Juve director Boniperti has said that Berlusconi “uses his TV channels to create suspicions and psychology without any basis”.

The fouls against Milan are said to be extra widely reported, to ensure that the referees are well-disposed towards the team in compensation for the alleged mistakes of colleagues. Most Juventus directors and players avoid the TV cameras of Berlusconi’s channels, which in turn leads to irritated reactions from Milan colleagues that they also speak to the journalists from the Corriere della Sera, La Stampa and the Gazzetta delle Sport, newspapers that are all directly or indirectly controlled by the Fiat conglomerate.

Juventus president Chiusano has further inflamed the situation by saying that Milan is acting in an arrogant manner and is acting contrary to the spirit of new austerity that has come over the country after the bribery scandals. Milan does not have the decency to not spend money when people have to be laid off from the company, according to Chiusano. Juventus' financial resources have been significantly reduced this season due to the difficulties of the Fiat group. Berlusconi is also deeply in debt.

The exchange of words is an attempt to build up credit with the referees, a credit that can be used later in the season. But at Milan, partly due to the 1-1 draw against Juventus on Sunday, irritation and unrest are visible. That has not disappeared after the Schadenfreude about the elimination of Juventus in the Italian Cup yesterday, by a club from Serie B. Milan still has a one-point lead over Juventus in the league, Boban is a reasonable replacement for Rijkaard, Van Basten is on the way back, but the team is not performing as it used to and both Berlusconi and Cappello have said that they deeply regret letting Ruud Gullit go. That could still come back to haunt them next Sunday, when Milan visit Sampdoria.

Gullit has more than revived at Sampdoria and has led his new team to a shared third place. He is the main pacesetter and, after his two goals against Torino last Sunday, is joint first on the list of top scorers, with six goals. Both La Stampa and La Repubblica have named him the best player in Serie A again this week. At Milan, Gullit was regularly on the bench and played both as a striker and on the right wing. At Sampdoria, he has regained his match rhythm and is also given more freedom on the pitch by coach Eriksson. "But the most important thing is that I now live among people without any problems," is how Gullit explained his resurrection. "I leave my house without fear of being besieged. It is often very nice to feel anonymous."