Wim Jonk: "Revenge for '94 and '98"

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Wim Jonk (l.) and the current Brazilian coach Carlos Dunga in the 1994 clash in Dallas

Wim Jonk still gets a bad taste in his mouth when he thinks back to the encounters with Brazil at the 1994 and 1998 World Cup. Twice Holland could have beat the South Americans; twice the Dutch were disappointed.

"So it would be great if we can beat Brazil on Friday," says the former Holland midfielder.

In both of these lost matches against Brazil Jonk was in the starting lineup. In the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Holland it happened in the quarter finals. Four years later in Marseilles a place in the final was at stake.

"My mind wandered back to those games when it became clear on Monday that it will again be Brazil for the next round. Of course you then think back to those penalties in 1998, but also to the feeling that we could have beat them twice."

Jonk had been surprised when he read the remarks of his former team mates Frank de Boer and Phillip Cocu last week. The current assistants to Bert van Marwijk said that winning the World Cup had not been on their minds in '98. "I thought that was remarkable, for it had been on my mind. The level we achieved during training and the matches was so high, we were so sharp."

During the World Cup in the USA Oranje were brought to their knees by a cannon of a shot from Branco. In 1998 Holland stranded after the penalties. "Holland-Brazil is always a bit special, just like Holland-Germany is. Brazil are one of the biggest footballing nations and they are always candidates to win it."

But Jonk has also seen they have parted with the samba football with which they used to conquer the world. "They play with a defensive block of six and four up front. That is not exactly how they used to play."

Brazilian manager Carlos Dunga, in 1994 and 1998 a player of the 'Seleçao', never goes beyond these four forwards - Luis Fabiano, Robinho, Kaká and Elano. Whatever they let through is swept up by the impressive holding block of Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo. The defense rests on the shoulders of these two and on the equally impressive Lucio and Juan. Right- and left-back Maicon and Bastos are left to race down the flanks and assist the four up front.

"Offensively they really have some extra quality, but I think the defense is not their strongest part. Especially on the wings I see possibilities. How will Bastos fare against Arjen Robben?"

"So far Brazil have hardly been tested in South Africa. It will be interesting to see how they will react when they go one behind. I think Holland have a good chance, and I really hope we will win. Twice we lost by the slightest of margins. We came so close to greatness in '94 and '98. And when you look who will be the opponents after Brazil you have a real chance of making it to the final. So this is kind of a pre-final."