Playing a unique brand of football, the Dutch
were a joy to watch and in their memorable 2-0
semi-final win against Brazil, Neeskens scoring a
glorious opening goal to clinch a place in the final
against West Germany,
In that game he showed commendable coolness
when Holland were awarded a penalty after less
than two minutes play, remaining calm to fire a
shot past Sepp Maier with tremendous force.
By this time Cruyff had migrated to Barcelona
for a world record £922,000 transfer fee as that
great Ajax side began to break up.
In 1974 Barcelona returned with another huge
fee to reunite Neeskens with Cruyff in the Nou
Camp where Neeskens was a great success with
his work-rate and ability to score goals from
midfield, gaining the nickname Johan Segon -
Johan the second.
In 1978 Cruyff sadly declined the opportunity
to play in the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and
despite losing their star man, the Dutch still
managed to battle their way to the final, gaining
revenge over West Germany in the process,
Neeskens badly damaged his ribs in Holland's
3-2 defeat against Scotland but he showed great
courage in returning for the tournaments' latter
stages,
Holland won a great many admirers with their
efforts during the 1974 and 1978 World Cups and
there was a great sense of disappointment when
they lost a final for the second successive time to
a host nation when Argentina prevailed by a 3-1
scoreline.
Despite their two major Dutch imports,
Barcelona struggled to make an impression during
the period and it was a tremendous blow in 1975
when they lost to Leeds United at the European
Cup semi-final stage.
It was still a great surprise in 1979 when Barca
allowed Neeskens to depart for the glamorous
surroundings of the New York Cosmos in the
North American Soccer League where he faced
his old comrade Cruyff, who was by this time
playing for the Los Angeles Aztecs before moving
to the Washington Diplomats.
It is difficult to think of Johan Neeskens without
thinking of him as a back-up act to Johan Cruyff,
but this is grossly unfair to Neeskens who was
such a talented player in his own right and he
deserves to be remembered as such after such an
outstanding career,
&*r
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