Diary / Jonathan Wilson / 14 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Jonathan Wilson wonders whether Ruud Van Nistelrooy's spinning double drag-back to set up Holland's second against France will be mentioned in the same breath as the Cruyff turn in years to come. At present though, Holland are looking the real deal..

The air was still grey with the damp of dawn as I came through the centre of Bern this morning. In a doorway by the station I saw a crumpled orange fez, and drunken Dutchmen still staggered around the platforms, but there were few other signs of the events of last night. The orange hordes who boisterously and good-humouredly packed these streets are gone and, nine hours after the end of one of the most extraordinary matches of football ever played, life plods dully on.

A friend of mine once pointed out that "it was a privilege to be there" is a construction used only by sports journalists. Realising he was probably right, I've since tried to avoid it but, really, what else can you say about being in the Wankdorf last night? Suddenly all the broken nights, all the gobbled meals, all the hours spent hanging around cold car-parks for two sentences from surly teenagers, all the frustrations of the job fall away and you realise that when in the future people speak of that great night when the Dutch beat the French 4-1, you can proudly say, "I was there."

Shortly after the final whistle, a stony-faced Arsene Wenger glowered his way through the oppress-room, yet even if his pride was hurt as a Frenchman, he must have appreciated the beauty of Holland's counter-attacking. The spinning double drag-back with which Ruud van Nistelrooy initiated the move that led to Holland's second goal will be replayed again and again; it is a moment of skill and ingenuity that deserves in time to become as familiar as the turn with which Johan Cruyff bewitched Sweden 34 years ago. The only shame is that Gregory Coupet got his hand to Robin van Persie's subsequent volley to spoil the aesthetic. No matter: Holland went on to score two more that were at least its equal, even if Coupet must accept some blame for the third, hammered over him from a narrow angle by Arjen Robben. Holland are now favourites at [4.9] to go on and win Euro 2008.

The introduction of Robben for the midfield holder Orlando Engelaar at half-time seemed a dreadful risk, with Rafael van der Vaart dropping back to cover, but it turned out to be a stroke of genius. Attack proved the best mode of defence, and Robben's pace tore poor Willy Sagnol to shreds. And yet the curious thing about it all is that France, as Italy had done in losing their opening game 3-0 to Holland, had their chances. In fact, according to the official statistics, they had 23 chances to Holland's 16.

Which tells us two things. One: that statistics should not always be taken at face value. And two: that Holland's commitment to attack renders them vulnerable. Again they were left thanking their goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for a number of excellent saves, and you do wonder how often they can rely on him to bail them out. Spain, Germany or Croatia may not be so accommodating in later rounds.

Nor might France or Italy a second time, which raises all kinds of intriguing conspiracy theories. Holland are guaranteed to top the group, so there is not great motivation for them against Romania in the final group game when they know that a Romanian victory would eliminate both World Cup finalists. That may explain why Romania are the favourites out of the three at [1.85] to qualify from Group C. World Champions Italy are [3.9] to make the quarters whilst France are the outsiders at [4.8]. Holland of course are not only through but also guaranteed to top the group and will therefore play the second-placed team from Group D - this is likely to mean they will avoid facing Spain in the quarters who are the second-favourites at [5.1] after impressing against Russia.

Still, for now it would be churlish to let such thoughts deflect attention from a stunning performance. Marco van Basten hasn't always been committed to attacking football as Arrigo Sacchi recalls freom his days managing him to two European Cups with AC Milan. "Marco van Basten used to ask me why we had to win and also be convincing," Sacchi said. "A few years ago, France Football made their list of the ten greatest teams in history. My Milan was right up there. World Soccer did the same: my Milan was fourth, but the first three were national teams - Hungary '54, Brazil '70 and Holland '74. And then us. So I took those magazines and told Marco, 'This is why you need to win and you need to be convincing.'"

After last night, the world can be grateful he learned the lesson.

Tags: Euro 2008 betting, Johan Cruyff, Ruud Van Nistelrooy