These are going to be the most emotional friendlies in the history of the Dutch national team (already scheduled well before news of Cruyff's death but what amazing timing):
The Netherlands play France in Ajax's Amsterdam Arena in a friendly on Friday (19:45 GMT) = Saturday morning NZT and face England at Wembley on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) = Wednesday am NZT.
Our own Football Ferns play the Netherlands in a friendly near Amsterdam in two weeks time.
Cruyff quotes:
On himself:
- "In a way I'm probably immortal."
- "If I wanted you to understand it all, I would have explained it better."
- "Actually I never make a mistake, because it takes a huge effort for me to make a mistake."
- "I don't believe in God. In Spain all 22 players cross themselves, if it works the game is always going to be a tie."
On football and his philosophy
- "Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is."
- "Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians."
- "Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring."
- "It's better to go down with your own vision than with someone else's."
- "In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender."
- "There is only one ball, so you need to have it."
- "Why couldn't you beat a richer club? I've never seen a bag of money score a goal."