Argentina meet the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the World Cup
The last time the two teams met at this stage of the competition was in 1998. Back then, Dennis Bergkamp scored a goal that would go down as a World Cup legend
Years later, everyone remembers it.
Especially Argentinians
No one pipes a word there except the German speakers, yet many people know them by heart, like a planetary hit sung in Esperanto.
The comments of the legendary Jack van Gelder still echo in the skulls of enthusiasts, 24 years after the work of art painted by Dennis Bergkamp at the Velodrome in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Cup, against Argentina.
A goal simply described as "great moment for the country" by Memphis Depay in the revenge watch conference on Thursday.
Ungrateful limit.
The former Lyonnais must probably be the type to drop a "yeah, bof" by laying his eyes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Let's face it.
No one has better sublimated the opening of De Boer, the control of the attacker, the sinking of Ayala and the masterful finish than the Thierry Rolland of Nos.
So much so that today, sound is inseparable from image.
It seems that a text cannot be listened to.
Do we do the test?
In VO: “Frank de Boer speelt de bal, heel goed, naar Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp, Dennis Bergkamp neemt de bal aan!
DENNIS BERGKAMP!
DENNIS BERGKAMP!!
DENNIS BERGKAMP !!!
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Van Gelder on commentary at the Cruyff Arena in front of 30,000 people
At 72, Jack van Gelder is a rockstar.
He receives interview requests by the shovel and legend has it that he has refused a hundred of them.
The voice of Argentina-Netherlands 98 no longer comments as before.
But he will return to service on the occasion of the 6th world part of the Argentinian-Dutch rivalry.
A comeback on stage, at the Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, where up to 30,000 people will watch the match on the stadium's screens.
Count from 15 to 300 euros – a price that includes a table of eight people – to attend the event commented by van Gelder.
Dennis Bergkamp will not replay his goal on the lawn of his former club.
But he could, as the memories remained intact to him, to the point of never having really had to see her again.
“It's always on my mind, I know exactly how it happened.
The non-flying Dutchman has recounted time and time again this goal which he considers to be the most beautiful of his career – yes, ahead of Newcastle – for its aesthetic significance and its importance.
“First, he tells
FourFourTwo
, there is eye contact with Frank de Boer.
He's going to send the ball to me.
Then you sprint, you get away from the defender.
The ball goes over my shoulder.
I run in a straight line and jump to control the ball.
The second touch directs me inside, to make sure I obliterate [Roberto] Ayala and get a better shot angle.
I'm aiming for the far post.
After the second touch, I know it can't go wrong.
No chance !
»
The post of Batistuta, Gignac before the hour
It is striking to note that the memories of his victim also remained intact.
Roberto Ayala, singular central defender – 1m77, not a mirrored wardrobe – was one of the best of his generation.
To sum it up to this lost pistol duel against a genius would be an offense on his behalf.
However, he himself seems to be fixated on 1998, after which it was not always easy to digest the criticisms.
Two years ago, Lionel Scaloni's now deputy was still speaking bitterly about this episode.
"I've seen it several times and I still can't find my mistake in this movement, he analyzed for 90min Spain.
I was not mistaken.
There is incredible control on his part.
When he brought the ball back, I thought I was going to have it with my foot, then I try to catch up.
Then I have no chance of sweeping with the other leg because the referee would have called the penalty.
The only mistake I recognize is that I was badly placed at the start.
If I was under a better profile, I could have challenged him for the ball without any problem.
»
Ayala is not alone in her pain.
At the other end of the field, Gabriel Batistuta had just lighted the post of Edwin van der Sar on a counter smoothly led by Juan Sebastian Veron – any resemblance to a certain defeat of the Blues is fortuitous.
Gabigol, quoted by the Mirror: “It was painful.
But no matter how much pain I felt, it was a nice goal.
The way Frank threw it, then Dennis' control and the finish...unbelievable.
»
Unforgettable, even, to the point of relegating the next two Argentina-Netherlands to the shadow of 1998. The 0-0 group stage in 2006 went completely under the radar, and the penalty shootout won by the 'Albiceleste in Brazil is far from legendary.
Friday, the two teams will have a new opportunity to get rid of the memory of Dennis Bergkamp.
And the commentators to forget Jack van Gelder.
"That's what we play for," Van Gaal said at a press conference.
For those defining moments that will be remembered.
Like that of Dennis, which will undoubtedly remain in the memories.
“Including that of Roberto Ayala.
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