Except for the first half, which saw both teams adopt a cautious approach, this confrontation is one of the pearls of the 1998 World Cup. The sheer individual class on the field is mind boggling, and the game eventually lived up to its 1974 and 1994 predecessors.
As Mario Zagallo decided to ignore Romario for the 1998 World Cup – officially due to injury, but in reality because he believed Romario would ruin the team atmosphere, it was up to a 21-year-old Ronaldo to carry Brazil to their second straight World Cup final. Ronaldo was fit, thin, fast and razorsharp. His duels with the Dutch defenders Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer have become the stuff of legends. The latter’s sliding tackle on Ronaldo is one of the best defensive interceptions in footballing memory.
After the match, however, Johan Cruyff stated “The chances Holland created, Holland created. And the chances Brazil created, well, Holland created half of them too.”
Watch it for yourselves!
Brazil
Taffarel – Ze Carlos, Junior Baiano, Aldair, Roberto Carlos – Cesar Sampaio, Dunga – Leonardo, Rivaldo, Bebeto, Ronaldo
Manager: Mario Zagallo
Holland
Van der Sar – Reiziger, Stam, Frank de Boer, Zenden – Ronald de Boer, Jonk, Davids, Cocu – Bergkamp, Kluivert
Manager: Guus Hiddink
The download links for Brazil vs Holland 1998 (English commentary) can be found here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?a4r9bvjhr873z
Credits go to Mojave005 for the video.
