Will and Guy’s World Cup Reminiscences – 1974 Winners West Germany
West Germany 2: 1 Holland
Holland in the 1970’s were undoubtedly the best team never to win the World Cup, writes Will. A particular feature of their game was ‘ total football’ whereby the players were comfortable in any position anywhere on the pitch. Anyone could do anything, defenders became forwards, forwards became defenders. Furthermore they were excellent practitioners of the long shot from outside the penalty area.
Holland’s best player was Johan Cruyff. By the 1974 World Cup Cruyff, wearing his trademark number 14 jersey, had taken over from Pelé as the world’s most gifted footballer. He won the title of European footballer of the year 3 times in: 1971,1973,1974 as well as a hat-trick of European Cups with Ajax.
Other footballers win awards but I cannot think of any others who have move named after them. The ‘ Cruyff turn’ is a move that every winger seeks to perfect.
What Cruyff did was shape as if to pass or cross, but then drag the ball behind his standing leg with the inside of his foot. Then he turned his shoulders and hips so that he was back in line with the ball and then race away. When Cruyff first used the turn in public against Sweden in 1974 and it was breathtaking
When John Franklin and I took the boy’s school football team John Rice [captain] practised and practised the Johan Cruyff turn until he could do it to perfection: thus showing the effect these geniuses can have on our game.
A variety of good, clean and free football (soccer) jokes. Funny sportsman’s nicknames. Amusing short stories. Anecdotes and tales about football. Will and Guy hope that you share our joy of sporting funnies.
