Mad Brit Diary

Dutch can't win World Cup, but are a boon to their clubs.

(Friday, April 4, 2003) -- While the Mad Brit likes to do his share of flag-waving, there's no denying his admiration for the brilliance of Dutch players. I ask you, how is that such a small nation (God created the world but the Dutch created Holland) has produced so many great soccer players?

Holland, or, the Netherlands, take your pick, continues to be one of the really great national teams in the world. Sometimes called the Brazil of Europe, Holland has so many talented players competing in the top leagues of Europe. If only the Dutch, who are a stubborn lot -- and the Mad Brit has known many in his time -- could unite at the national level, they could surely win a World Cup. But the Dutch have a tendency to collapse when the really big game comes along.

Remember Euro 2000 and all those penalties that were missed in the semifinal match against Italy in front of their home fans. The Dutch missed two PKs in the game and Frank de Boer was responsible for one. Then in the shootout with the Italians, they missed two more, and yes, Frank blew it again.

There's a great book published in 2000 called "Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football," by British writer David Winner. In his book, Winner explores the dichotomy that exists in Dutch soccer -- the ability to play dazzling and intoxicating soccer but at the same time blow important games.

"Why did Dutch football look so different to everyone else's football?' Winner writes. "Why did they so often screw up at the vital moments in the biggest competitions?"

And it was a sheer tragedy that the "Orange Crush" failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in Asia. "It appears the Dutch like to please and are sometimes happy after a great performance they didn't necessarily win," said former Ajax player Thomas Rongen.

Just look at the great Dutch players out there. Manchester United's leading goal scorer is Ruud Van Nistelrooy, a fantastic goal poacher with a killer instinct. There's Edgar Davids at Juventus, Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, Marc Overmars -- probably the best winger in the world -- at Barcelona. But one player the Mad Brit truly admires is Frank de Boer, 33, who last week played his 100th game international in an orange shirt.

Congratulations Frank. What a player. One hundred caps is an amazing milestone for the talented Barcelona defender. His twin brother Ronald is also a star player with Glasgow Rangers. Frank played his first game for the national team against Italy in a 1-0 loss at 1991. "I don't have good memories about that game," says de Boer on his web site, "I was so nervous."

At the time, Frank was still in the army doing his national service. At Barcelona, Frank plays alongside Dutch stars Phillip Cocu, Patrick Kluivert, Overmars and Michael Reiziger -- that's quite a mouth-watering concoction of talent. De Boer had a stellar career with Dutch club Ajax. He arrived at the famed club as a youth in 1988. He played for Holland at the 1992 European Cup and at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. In 1995, he won his first European Cup final with Ajax and repeated the feat the following year.

At the time, Ajax dominated club soccer and played some of the greatest football in the world. In 1998, de Boer moved to Spanish giant Barcelona for a whopping $11 million, which has become a base for many Dutch players over the years.

Remember the great Johan Cruyff who revealed to the world "total football," a Dutch experiment in the 1970s that encouraged players to switch positions constantly in an all-out attacking game?. Forwards defend, defenders attack and midfielders do it all. Cruyff scored 42 goals in four seasons at Catalan club and then coached the team to win the 1992 European Cup.

But I digress. Back to Frank. De Boer helped the Netherlands reach the 1998 World Cup semifinals, but had to watch his brother Ronald miss the key penalty kick in the shootout against Brazil. Now, after five seasons at Barca, Frank may be on his way to Blackburn Rovers after the season.

Blackburn coach Graeme Souness is said to be in secret talks to bring the intelligent defender to play in front of American goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Souness is looking for a seasoned defender to replace Henning Berg, who is quitting. Rovers are willing to play big bucks for de Boer, possibly in the range of $62,000 a week as there will be no transfer fee in Frank's move -- he's a free agent. Ronald is pulling in $60,000 a week at Rangers.

There are other clubs after de Boers. Manchester City is in the hunt as well as his old club Ajax. With Dutch coach Louis van Gaal out at Barcelona, the Dutch era at Barcelona may be coming to an end. Cocu, Reiziger, Overmars and Kluivert could all be headed to the English Premier League.

Other great Dutch stars the Mad Brit admires are Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. You may be asking, "Hey Mad Brit, what about the great midfielder Ronald Koeman?" But the MB will have none of it. Sorry, but the MB hasn't gotten over Koomen's foul on England's David Platt in World Cup qualifying in 1993. And the dumb ref didn't even give us a penalty. Then Koeman-the-brute, had the nerve to go and score on one of his thundering free kicks with his wart-ridden and stinking right foot. The Mad Brit is still in therapy over that incident, which put him off custard tarts and marmalade for years.

LNow Frank, he's no Koeman. He chose English gentleman Sir Bobby Charlton in his Fantasy XI. Go to England Frank, join Rovers, join Brad, just get out of Spain.

Iraq's qualifying game against Vietnam for the 2004 Olympics was postponed. I wonder why?

Did you see Brazilian star defender Roberto Carlos shove the ref in the not-so-friendly game against Portugal last week. Carlos, normally a nice guy when he comes to having tea with the Mad Brit, was red-carded for the push. The 2-1 scoreline was Portugal's first win over Brazil in 37 years, since the 1966 World Cup when Eusebio prowled Portugal's front line.

And what about that fantastic goal by Landon Donovan in the United States' 2-0 win over Venezuela at Seattle recently? Donovan is such a gold mine of talent. You have to wonder why he's still playing in Major League Soccer. Not that MLS is not a good league, but the big money is paid over the pond. There again, Donovan, just may not want to go overseas. In America, he's the biggest fish in the bowl and there's something to say about that.

And a big congrats to Czech star Jan Koller who got three goals in the Republic's last two games -- a 1-1 tie with the Netherlands and 4-0 crush of Austria. The MB justs loves to watch the lumbering Koller play for Dortmund in Germany.

Patrick Ward says: "Hello internet soccer fan colleague. I'm going to go way out on a limb here. . . my Columbus Crew will win the Eastern Conference this season and play Los Angeles in MLS Cup 2003. By the Way, the MetroStars and D.C. United won't make the playoffs again. Lastly, Stoitchkov gets off with barely a slap on the wrist for breaking that kid's leg. A criminal act.

And Knapp says: "The more I know about the Premiership and it's players, the more I realize it is a very distant third to Serie A and La Liga. Closer to the Bundesliga really. . . Fun to watch, but the hype is going away. Only English fans seem to believe the media brainwashing. I guess they have to. Which England player said this group had to win a trophy or they wouldn't be considered a success? Can I bet my house, kids, job? I would also love to see Beckham playing regularly for Real, with the reserve team of course. I'll keep saying it because I actually love the English game (even though my writing may not suggest it) Until the English stop fooling themselves about their players and team nothing will change."

Been fooling yourselves for a long, long, long, long time. Somebody has to deal with this fellow called Knapp, he's driving the Mad Brit even Madder. The MB has just two words for Knapp: WAYNE ROONEY.

Heard a rumor, have a gripe or a tip? Feeling lonely? E-mail the Mad Brit at themadbrit3@aol.com.