The lynchpin of a Holland team about whom the expression "Total Football" was coined, Johan Cruyff was a sublime mover with ball at his mesmerising feet. Bursting on to the world scene in the early 1970s as an out-and-out striker his exceptional versatility in wandering out wide to confuse those who tried to contain him, allows us to select him on the right of midfield.
His exceptional vision in predicting how a move was developing and his explosive pace into a vacant area of the pitch made him almost impossible to mark. Most neutrals wanted Cruyff and his exciting Dutch colleagues to overcome the hosts, West Germany, in the 1974 World Cup final. Despite Cruyff earning a first-minute penalty from a remarkable passing movement straight from the kick-off, it was not to be as Germany won 2-1. Cruyff had to be consoled with the honour of being named player of the tournament to go alongside the three Ballons D'Or he collected in the four seasons leading up to those finals.
Surprisingly in a playing career spanning two decades, Cruyff totted up only 48 senior caps for his country before going on to reach a managerial peak in an eight-year spell at Barcelona. @Email:wjohnson@thenational.ae
