#2 Lack of identity
Everyone knows what Total Football is. It’s one of the most famous and most beautiful styles of football we have ever seen, led by the likes of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff back in the 1970s. Recently, however, it’s like the Dutch have almost forgotten what Total Football is and what it means.
The late Cruyff spent the whole of the 2010 World Cup saying how bad this Dutch side was because they left their footballing principles at the door in favour of a tougher, more physical style of play. Watching their recent loss to Bulgaria, there wasn’t any sort of identity to this side.
Earlier, you could always bank on the fact that you would get a great footballing battle against the Dutch and maybe their mentality would get the better of their opposition, but now you get neither. Their playing style means they are almost helpless against the big sides, showcased in losses against Italy and France, and also capable of the odd slip up against weaker opposition like Iceland last year and Bulgaria recently.
Some players aren’t suited to Total Football whilst some are, but Total Football isn’t the be all and end all. At the moment, the Netherlands just needs some sort of identity because right now anything is better than nothing.
