Im hacked off with the press about this.
This is not a mickey mouse club game, it's not a champions league qualifier, or even a champions league final - this was the World Cup Final. THE biggest prize in world sport, bar none.
The way the dutch approached the game was with a determination to win, and a plan of doing WHATEVER it took to win the game. They played, completely on the edge - on the edge of decency, on the edge of cheek, and on the borderline between agression and dangerous play. However, they did NOT cheat, they may have approached the game negatively, but IT'S THE WORLD CUP FINAL, the worst thing in the world would be to give the game away by being caught out pushing up field.
Maradonna is praised and admired by every football fan that isn't english as being not just a genius, but for doing whatever it takes to win. He won. Ayrton Senna, Similar - He won 3 times. Michael Schumacher - Also did whatever it took to win - he goes down in history as the greatest driver of all time. If Holland had snuck a goal last night, they would not have gone down in history as the team that kicked their way to the world cup, they would have simply gone down as the World Champions. Holland were doing what they thought would lead them to the trophy - Full on commitment, no fear, and complete determination. It wasn't pretty to watch - but for the media to condemn them in such a way is bang out of order in my opinion. Would they have done the same to England??
More to the point - the main criticism came from Alan Hansen. Forgive my memory, but when WAS the last time that anyone scottish knew anything about winning a world cup exactly??
Unlucky Holland - you put up a good fight......