A traditional shooter and an artist with a genius inspiration, Van Basten was a survivor of a generation of players who were disappearing after tactics and defense became mainstream in football. We can't ask for more for his premature retirement, he's done everything.
The answer to who is the striker who can be remembered by the whole of Europe with just one goal is simple, and there is only one, he is Van Basten. In the 1988 Euro 208 final, the goal he scored into the Soviet Union was called the "trans-century goal", and it was unbelievable that he could even volley into the net at an almost zero-degree angle with the goal. Watching Van Basten play on the pitch is like savoring a cup of dry, silky Pu'er tea.
Van Basten was born on October 30, 1964 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. At the age of seven, Basten entered the junior team of Utrecht Club. In 1981, Basten moved from the Udler detachment to Ajax, officially beginning his red and white career. At the 1983 World Youth Championship in Mexico, Basten was named one of the "World's Most Promising Stars" by FIFA for his outstanding skills. Famous Dutch coach Michels said he would be the next marksman for the Oranges. In the 1983–1984 season, Van Basten won the European Silver Boot with 28 goals in the Eredivisie, and in the 1985–86 season, van Basten won the European Golden Boot with 37 goals. At this time, he attracted the attention of many big clubs.
In 1987, ac Milan club new owner Berlusconi tried to rebuild the team, he successively took Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkard into the account, forming the "Dutch Three Musketeers" who would later shock football. However, Van Basten's first Serie A season was not satisfactory, and due to ankle surgery, Basten could only witness AC Milan and Napoli in the stands for most of the time.
In January 1988, the European Championship draw was announced in Düsseldorf, Germany, and the Netherlands was grouped with the Soviet Union, England and Ireland. At this time, Van Basten was recuperating at home, the European Championship seemed to be far away from him, he was focused on recovery and treatment, and Michels did not put Basten in his first team building plan. In May, Basten was injured again in a clash with an Italian defender. At the risk of surgery, Basten reported to the Dutch team's base in Cologne, Germany, less than a week before the opening of the European Championship.
The First Group Game of the Netherlands against the Soviet Union, Michels put Van Basten on the bench, although Gullit was mighty, allowing the Dutch team to occupy the initiative on the field, but the impasse could not be opened for a long time, but the Soviets counterattacked and killed, and finally the Netherlands lost the first game to the Soviet Union 0:1. After the game, in the face of public criticism, Michels decided to adjust the front line to reuse Van Basten. Luckily, he made the right bet, and Basten scored a hat-trick against England, leaving Hilton with no face in his national team's 100th game, and Basten has been out of control ever since. After qualifying for the semi-finals, the Dutch side was West Germany, and Basten scored the winning ball when the two sides were in a 1-1 stalemate, eliminating the hosts 2:1 to advance to the final, and the opponent had defeated his own Soviet team in the group stage.
In this game, Basten reached an artistic level, first assisting Gullit to score a goal, and then it was time for him to perform. He was on the right side of the penalty area and teammate Van Glenti crossed from the left and at an incredible angle, Basten didn't wait for the ball to land on the ground and volleyed in, completing a miracle. What Soviet goalkeeper Dasayev did was pick up the ball from the net. Basten himself has fond memories of this goal: "I've seen this goal many times since, and it was really beautiful, it was perfect both from angle to technical action. ”
A van Basten who had only expected to play before the European Championship took over the best player and top scorer and drove away a car worth 50,000 marks, which surprised and incredible everyone.
In 1992, the Dutch Legion once again attacked the European Championship champions, they won the death group against Scotland, Germany, the Commonwealth of Independent States to qualify in the group first in the semi-finals against the dark horse Denmark, the two sides in 120 minutes to a 2-2 draw, the game into a suffocating penalty shootout. The Dane hit all five free throws and Basten's shot in the second round was saved by Schmeichel, and the hero failed to save the Netherlands again.
Van Basten's last match was the Champions League final on 26 May 1993, against Marseille. At this time, Basten is no longer what it used to be, Milan is 0:1 to drink hate, and a generation of superstar Van Basten, but had to use this defeat as the best song of his professional football. In the same year, he began to miss an important game, and even completely missed the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Elegance, dashing, temperament, demeanor, in short, you can write him all the good words you can think of, and he has indeed never let down anyone who likes him. Aside from the fragile ankle that made him say goodbye to the green field prematurely, Basten was almost perfect.
Basten was the most technically versatile centre-forward in football at the time, with a wide range of passing, dribbling and breakthrough techniques, playing the world and playing new tricks with his headers. He has balanced left and right feet, is tall, and does not lack small skills under his feet. Van Basten is the perfect center forward template. This includes not only his superb and comprehensive shooting skills, flowing and elegant movements, the speed of the wind, the ball quotient of the master, and the team spirit of dedication, but also his character and professionalism, which he is a model among the players.
Competition Results:
Winner of the 1988 European Championship in West Germany
Final Four of Euro 1992 in Sweden
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