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The all-time World Cup




May 17th 2005
Yokohama, International Stadium
NETHERLANDS - SOVIET UNION
2-1 (1-0)

      GOALS                    4'  1-0  Johan Cruijff
                              65'  2-0  Willy van der Kuijlen
                              69'  2-1  Oleg Kuznetsov

      REFEREE                 Said Belqola (Morocco)

      ATTENDANCE              71,000

      YELLOW CARDS            Israël, Suurbier (NED) - Mikhailichenko, Kuznetsov (SOV)




      NETHERLANDS (Coach: Rinus Michels, system 4-3-3)

       1 Jan van Beveren
       2 Wim Suurbier
      18 Cor van der Hart
       6 Rinus Israël
       5 Ruud Krol
       7 Johan Neeskens
      11 Willy van der Kuijlen       (-74)
      10 Wim van Hanegem
      20 Faas Wilkes                 (-86)
      13 Beb Bakhuys                 (-65)
      14 Johan Cruijff (captain)

      Substitutes:
       9 Marco van Basten            (+65)
      21 Jan Wouters                 (+74)
      22 Bertus de Harder            (+86)



      SOVIET UNION (Coach: Valeri Lobanovski, system 4-3-3)

       1 Lev Yashin
       2 Vladimir Bessonov
       4 Oleg Kuznetsov
       6 Albert Shesternev (captain)
       5 Anatoli Demianenko (-46)
       8 Vladimir Muntian (-75)
       7 Aleksei Mikhailichenko
      16 Vasili Rats
      14 Eduard Strelzov
      10 Vsevolod Bobrov (-80)
      11 Oleg Blokhine

      Substitutes:
      13 Aleksandr Zavarov (+46)
      21 Anatoli Ilyin (+75)
       9 Oleg Protasov (+80)


MATCHREPORT


    Some of the Dutch players feared the clash with the Soviet Union. Lobanovski's teams had always been hard nuts for them to crack. The Russians were always able to control the pace of the game very well and were quick in the counter-attack. And also in this tournament they had shown that their play was very much directed towards the opponent's goal and that they were very quick in the transition.

    In the Holland team Frank Rijkaard missed out due to suspension and Michels surprisingly chose Cor van der Hart in his place, a player relying more on his playing skills than on his abilities as a manmarker. For the rest the team was complete. Wilkes and Bakhuys were yet again preferred to Gullit and Van Basten, Cruijff once more started from the left side but of course he covered most of the pitch. In the Soviet team no big surprises. Lobanovski brought his first choice back for this big game, of course.

    Lev Yashin entered the game unbeaten in his first two games (Dassaev had played in the last groupmatch) but saw his run ended already in the 4th minute. Van Hanegem got the ball in midfield and played it precisely to Johan Cruijff, left alone by Bessonov on the left. From a narrow angle the Dutch captain circled it beautifully over the jumping Yashin into the far corner. A brilliant goal! But it hadn't been the first chance in the match. Just after the beginning the Soviet Union had broken through on the right, Strelzov took the ball from Krol and offered a heading opportunity to Bobrov. Dutch goalkeeper Van Beveren needed a little miracle to get it over the bar.

    The quick lead was exactly what Holland had hoped for. The Soviet Union now had to leave their defensive positions and offer space for the Dutch strikers. A game developed with chances on both sides and with two goalkeepers of the highest stature who had brought their best form with them. Yashin saved a diving header from Bakhuys and a hard shot from Van der Kuijlen, Van Beveren dived into Blokhine's feet and parried a low drive from Mikhailichenko. Van der Hart had a tough time against Bobrov, just like Suurbier against Blokhine. The Dutch right back fouled him numerous times, until referee Belqola thought it was enough and he showed Suurbier the yellow card. It meant a suspension for Suurbier, in case Holland would make it to the quarter final. Earlier Rinus Israël had received a yellow card for a foul on Strelzov. Later in the match Mikhailichenko and Kuznetsov would also disappear into Belqola's book, for Kuznetsov also a second booking and therefore a suspension for a possible next match.

    Just before the break Holland got the ideal opportunity to double the score. Cruijff again was far too quick for Bessonov and sent a perfect cross to Neeskens. The midfielder shot it sharp into the corner, but Yashin saved it magnificently. All that left Holland was a corner. Holland and the Soviet Union had played a fine first half with chances for both teams. During half-time Lobanovski took Demianenko off and put Zavarov in the team. Vasili Rats went to the left back position. Holland had to adjust and Neeskens was connected to Zavarov. Mikhailichenko now got more freedom and he took it. He created a lot of danger from the left side were Suurbier had to be careful against Blokhine. The Kiev man could cross twice, Mikhailichenko came within inches of reaching the first one before Israël could kick it away, Bobrov headed the second straight to a well positioned Van Beveren. Mikhailichenko tried again from outside the box, the ball was deflected by Israël but Van Beveren stopped it just before the line. Holland were under pressure, the Soviets imposed with quick play and also created chances.

    When Holland scored the 2-0, it was unexpected. The Dutch got a free kick when Rats had fouled Wilkes. Cruijff played it to Van der Kuijlen, who pulled the trigger from 22 metres. Yashin was left moveless: 2-0. Michels immediately substituted Bakhuys, controlled very well throughout the match by Kuznetsov, with Van Basten. Still Holland had problems with the pace of the game, especially in midfield they were overrun from time to time. Shortly after the 2-0, the tension came back. From a corner kick Kuznetsov dived in front of Van der Hart and finished it off: 2-1. The siege of Van Beveren's goal could really start now.

    Michels saw the danger, took Van der Kuijlen off and Wouters had to restore the balance in midfield. He took over the marking of Zavarov, Neeskens went back to Mikhailichenko. Lobanovski took Muntian, pale this time, off and substituted him with striker Ilyin. In the 80th minute Protasov came for Bobrov who had run out of steam. The Dutch team now withdrew a little more from the Russian pressure, Van Hanegem and Cruijff tried to keep the ball in the team and succeeded in doing so. The Soviet Union had one last chance when Ilyin could shoot from 14 metres, but Van Beveren again kept it out. During the last minutes the better chances were for Holand. Neeskens went past Shesternev but found Yashin on his way. Bertus de Harder who had come in for Wilkes had a last try but Yashin was in the right place again.

    Holland kept the Russians off, but it had been a hardfought match and the Soviets might have deserved to go into extra-time. Both teams had played well, but Holland had been vulnerable defensively and thanked Jan van Beveren for a faultless display. The next match would be in Rome against the winner of the South-European confrontation between France and Portugal. Again a match to look out for. Lobanovski and the Soviet Union bowed out, but had shown the world to be worthy participants on the highest level.

    Can Yugoslavia withstand the Hungarian attacking machine, or will Puskas and his men continue to astound in this All Time World Cup on Friday? Both East-European teams meet in Stockholm with Georges Capdeville as referee. Both teams are complete. Yugoslavia welcome back stopper Katalinski who will be needed very much to keep topscorer Kocsis at bay. Dragan Stojkovic is also available again. Hungary will certainly keep on playing with their brilliant forward line who have created so many problems for every defence they met. The world awaits a high scoring game because the strikers are considered to be much better than the defenders and both midfields do not contain many defensive forces.




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