Dutch legend tips Barcelona-style Spain to lift Cup
Source: Agencies |
July 10, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
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NETHERLANDS great Johan Cruyff probably never expected the style of play he made synonymous with attacking football to pay off for Spain.
Spain will take on the Netherlands in tomorrow's World Cup final, with two of the world's best attacking teams looking to win the tournament for the first time.
While Cruyff led the Dutch to its previous two finals, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to its first in South Africa.
Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's style of play, a possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that has become Spain's manifesto. Key players like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all came up through Barcelona's youth academy.
"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff wrote in his El Periodico column on Thursday. "Now, Spain is favorite to win the World Cup."
While Barcelona's first taste of "Total Football" came during Cruyff's playing days, he also implemented them as Barcelona coach in the early 90s.
Cruyff's "Dream Team" -- comprising a mix of Dutch players and midfield maestros like current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola -- won four straight league titles and the club's first European Cup.
Of Spain's current 23-man squad, nine came up through Barcelona's academy with six being regular starters.
"Spanish team or Barca team?" La Vanguardia newspaper asked.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has stayed true to the style and fielded seven of the Catalan club's players against Germany.
"I manage a young group of players who are very well-seasoned in the world of football," Del Bosque said.
"We're very lucky people to have so many great players. We've been detached from success for so many years that now is the time."
The underachiever tag seems to have been shelved.
"Last night, that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best; a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team. But not Spain," Cruyff said.
"If Spain goes for you, it kills you."
Even Puyol's 73rd-minute goal in the 1-0 win over Germany was Barcelona-esque, as the central defender soared high to score an identical header in a record 6-2 win at Real Madrid in 2009.
"It's a play we do at Barcelona," Puyol said. "Two days before the game, Del Bosque explained that they defended by zone and I told him we could do it. Luckily, it worked out well."
Spain will take on the Netherlands in tomorrow's World Cup final, with two of the world's best attacking teams looking to win the tournament for the first time.
While Cruyff led the Dutch to its previous two finals, it seems he's also played a big part in taking Spain to its first in South Africa.
Cruyff is credited with creating Barcelona's style of play, a possession-based game of quick touches and slick passing that has become Spain's manifesto. Key players like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique all came up through Barcelona's youth academy.
"Spain's style is the style of Barcelona," Cruyff wrote in his El Periodico column on Thursday. "Now, Spain is favorite to win the World Cup."
While Barcelona's first taste of "Total Football" came during Cruyff's playing days, he also implemented them as Barcelona coach in the early 90s.
Cruyff's "Dream Team" -- comprising a mix of Dutch players and midfield maestros like current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola -- won four straight league titles and the club's first European Cup.
Of Spain's current 23-man squad, nine came up through Barcelona's academy with six being regular starters.
"Spanish team or Barca team?" La Vanguardia newspaper asked.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has stayed true to the style and fielded seven of the Catalan club's players against Germany.
"I manage a young group of players who are very well-seasoned in the world of football," Del Bosque said.
"We're very lucky people to have so many great players. We've been detached from success for so many years that now is the time."
The underachiever tag seems to have been shelved.
"Last night, that same Germany team that dazzled us against Argentina played football as it knows best; a football that without a doubt would have been enough to beat any other team. But not Spain," Cruyff said.
"If Spain goes for you, it kills you."
Even Puyol's 73rd-minute goal in the 1-0 win over Germany was Barcelona-esque, as the central defender soared high to score an identical header in a record 6-2 win at Real Madrid in 2009.
"It's a play we do at Barcelona," Puyol said. "Two days before the game, Del Bosque explained that they defended by zone and I told him we could do it. Luckily, it worked out well."
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