Holland were for so long the 'nearly men' of international football. We take a look at their UEFA Euro 88 win as part of our ‘Story of the UEFA European Championships’ series in association with Heineken - official beer partner of UEFA Euro 2020.
They played with such verve, class and style that they beguiled football fans when it came to international tournaments, but always fell short.
Their philosophy was important to them, as Ruud Gullit explains.
"I'm very proud of Holland, of what we've achieved in world football, because everybody knows it," Gullit said.
"Wherever you go, in the whole world, everybody knows the Oranje Army. Everybody knows the Dutch for their interpretation of the game; for the way they play the game."
Holland: UEFA Euro '88
Uefa Euro '88 would be wear philosophy and a ruthless streak would combine to a lethal result.
"The Dutch players in '88 were seen as kids who had seen the lost finals of '74 and '78 and the great beauty but ultimate disappointment of the 'total footballers'. They were actually pretty keen to not go down that route. They would pay nicely if they could, but mainly they would get a win!"
With six wins from eight in qualifying, Holland lost 1-0 to Soviet Union on the same day that Ray Houghton had, as it were, stuck the ball in the English net.
Van Basten
Rinus Michels had left striker Marco van Basten out of the side from their opening loss, but would restore him to the lineup for the second group game against England.
A hat-trick vindicated both player and manager.
"Van Basten, because of that tournament, becomes the greatest player of that generation. Now the great tragedy is that he had to finish at 28 because of his ankle. But he is seen as better than Gullit, better than all of them, really."
Just as well, as Holland's opponents in the eventual final were the Soviet Union, one of their opponents in the group.
It was to be the scene of one of the most unforgettable moments in tournament history. After van Basten provided Gullit for the opener, he scored a beautiful looping volley to secure his place in Euros folklore.
'One of the all-time great goals'
"Van Basten's goal in the final is one of the all-time great goals. One of the very odd things about it is that it is foreshadowed in a warm-up game that Holland play just a few days before the tournament starts.
"A guy called Michel Dreis scored an almost-identical goal with van Basten on the pitch, watching.
"Van Basten's goal is better, there's more whip on it and the improbable angle, you can see from Van Basten's face after the goal, he is astonished.
"We remain astonished to this day, it is everybody's favourite goal, isn't it? It's that or Maradona's goal."
Holland were no longer the nearly men.
The story of the UEFA European Championships on OTB Sports with Heineken – official beer partner of UEFA Euro 2020. Finally together to be rivals again. Drink responsibly, visit drinkaware.ie
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