Iconic Moments in Football No.30
Today’s iconic moment involves a piece of skill by Johann Cruyff, one of the greatest players to have ever played the game.
It had never been seen before and became known as the ‘Cruyff Turn’.
Cruyff was playing for an extremely talented Holland against Sweden in the 1974 World Cup. They would go all the way to the Final before losing 2-1 to the hosts West Germany.
The game was 23 minutes old when Dutch midfielder Arie Haan pinged a diagonal ball to Cruyff out on the left wing.
Cruyff took the ball down under control with his left foot. He stood about 10 yards from the byline on the edge of the box.
Swedish defender Jan Olsson was right up close to Cruyff who way slightly off-balance. The Dutchman turned his back on Olsson and with his back to goal and holding the Swedish defender off, feigned to cross the ball with his right foot.
In an instant, Cruyff then dragged the ball with his right foot towards the byline and pirouetted 180 degrees, completely wrong-footing Olsson.
The Swede had taken a step forward so as to block the cross that Cruyff had pretending to hit. Cruyff was already three or four yards away before the Swede had realised where he was!
Cruyff hit took a touch and flicked a cross into the box with the outside of his right boot. Sadly nothing came of the chance but history had been made. The ‘Cruyff Turn’ was born!
46 years have passed since Johann Cruyff showed the world that first piece of skill. It is commonplace in today’s game, with many players replicating the turn. It must have been incredible to see it for the first time at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund in 1974!
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