Last weekend, I went with the U19 Excelsior group to Dourges, France for a tournament. We traveled for more then 3 hours to get to our location. The preparation was unbelievable; we had a cargo van loaded with gear and equipment. We brought 5 different kit, one for each game, and at least 3 different kit for after the game. Heading to the tournament we were all full of optimism and positive energy….
The Dourges tournament had 10 teams from 8 different countries; England, Sweden, Romania, France, Croatia, Denmark, and Russia to name a few. It was very interesting to see the different styles based on where they came from. I can see how Canada has been heavily influenced by English football. There was 2 pools of 5, game’s were 40 minutes in length.
Excelsior’s first game was against Denmark, Excelsior has a chance to score the first goal. They ended up losing the first game. Games are so quick and in most cases the team who scores the first goal usually wins. Having shorter games keeps the tempo of the game high and enjoyable to watch. Excelsior’s second was ended up having the same result as the first game, another loss. Excelsior just did not really seem like they wanted to play, it was interesting to witness. They were the most technical, the field was not that good at all, but the desire to beat the other team was just not present. The other teams were more powerful with a style that was not as technical, but they had a desire to win. I suddenly started questioning why? what, how? I do not understand,,, except during the trip I was reading a book called “Brilliant Orange” the neurotic genius of dutch football by David Winner. When I finished I hit an epiphany, I went back to all the pages I put an “ear”on to look back and read again. I found a really interesting paragraph and it goes like this….
We are small and we lack power, but we think the whole world will adopt us as a model of enlightenment. We have such a strong sense of moral superiority that it’s not so important to us if we win or lose. It’s like the self-legitimation of a small country which says it’s no scandal to lose against superior military force when outnumbered. When we lose, it’s always because of “brutal force”. We never think we lose of the elegance or creativity of another team. No, it’s because they used brutal force, which is simply not relevant to us because we are playing a different, better, higher game, which the referee also happens not to understand. We won’t lower ourselves to your level, but if it makes you happy to destroy our elegance, then go ahead!
To elaborate more, I suggest reading the book; moreover, another great book to read is: “How soccer explains the world” Auther: Franklin Foer Coach Marco van Lochem was not pleased at all. You have the most skilled team in the tournament yet they are not performing like one. Marco had a meeting with the team, I was present and I wish I could have told you what he said, but it was all in Dutch; however, Marco did tell me after the meeting the captain talked to the team, they concluded that the next day they would get 6 points in two games…. An old neighbor I used to have who witnessed when Canada helped liberate Holland used to always tell me “A Dutchmen is very nice, but do not make him mad” This was very true on the second day of the tournament, the first game was against a young Russian squad, victory came at ease. The second game was against a team that if they beat Excelsior they would win the pool and head into the final. Hmmm another loss playing against one of the toughest teams in the tournament? One would think so but let’s not forget the Dutch are pissed…. Now, I have read books and heard so much of the Dutch style of play “Total Voetball” but I had never really seen it in person in such a dominating force until that afternoon. Excelsior came out flying, ping, ping, ping; passing right to the feet. Excelsior player’s made triangles around every opposing player, they played as if the opposing team were just standing their looking dazed and confused. Excelsior was moving all around the pitch, position-switching looked fluid and chaotic and gave the opposing defenders a blizzard of movement and hostility to deal with. Excelsior only won the game 1-0 but the other team barely even touched the ball. I clearly remember looking at the opposing coach, his look was perplexed, as if he had no idea what to tell his players, he shrugged his shoulder, as if waving a the white flag of defeat… a moment, a game I will always remember…. I have now witnessed the wrath of the Dutch Total Voetball, just beautiful. Imagine if Excelsior played like this every game, they would have easily won the tournament, but they can say they were the most technical team in the tournament, as well, I would like to add that they had 6 players who were U17. In the end though, they did not come close to winning the tournament, maybe they just need a shot of Canadian Grit? Imagine combining Canadian Grit with Dutch technical soccer? Lethal.
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