Dutch Legend Johan Cruyff Shocks Holland By Insisting: I Want Spain To Win

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff last night risked alienating his own country by insisting he wants Spain to win the World Cup Final.

Cruyff, the keystone of Rinus Michel's Total Football side of 1974, has long been a resident of Barcelona.

But while Holland is already planning a ticker-tape parade along the canals of Amsterdam on Tuesday, the former schemer backed the Spanish to out-play Bert Van Marwijk's side.

Cruyff said: "I am Dutch but I will always defend the football Spain play.

"If you play attacking football, like Spain do, you have more chances of winning. And if you try to play on the counter against a team that really wants the ball, you deserve to suffer.

"The fact is that if you try to out-play Spain, they will kill you and Holland now know they face the best team in the world.

"When you look at Spain, you see Barcelona, you see Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Pedro in midfield, players who want the ball but then will put pressure on high up the pitch to win it back.

"Now, deservedly, Spain are in the Final, a match that is only about winning, as I know. Spain have a great footballing generation, who may never get another chance like this.

"I know the whole of Holland wanted to play Germany in the Final, because they fear Spain will simply keep the ball for 90 minutes. Their only chance is if Spain fail to take their opportunities, like they did against Germany.

"It is Spain's game to lose but I will take intense joy if they win it."

Cruyff's latest pot-shot came despite Van Marwijk reiterating his belief that his side are lucky to be the inheritors of the same Oranje shirt as Cruyff and Co.

The coach said: "Those teams of 1974 and 1978 are an inspiration to us.

"I was thinking about the '74 and '78 teams during the game against Uruguay and at the end of the game and have talked many times about those teams.

"Now we live in another time. I will not think about the legacy we can leave at the moment. We first have to play the game and then you can ask me the same question."

Van Marwijk also defended Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie, who has come under fire after scoring just once in six outings so far.

The Dutch coach said: "Robin improved in his last game. I am full of confidence in him. He is in very good shape at the moment.

"Robin is one of 11 players and we play in a way that everyone can play a good game. We have to do with 11. Every time Robin plays well and I think he will play his best game in the final."

Source: Mirror Football