MARCO V AN BASTEN

FORWARD

Few names are more synonymous with the European Championship as Marco van Basten, the part lethal centre- forward, part ballerina, who reserved some of his greatest displays for the tournament.

The three- time Ballon d’or winner was the star of the Dutch side that won Euro 88, their first major tournament success, with a series of typically attractive, cavalier performances.

Van Basten scored a hattrick against England in the group stage and netted the winner against West Germany in the semi- final, but his most famous moment came in the final against Soviet Union.

With a high cross dropping on to Van Basten’s right foot on the far side of the box nine minutes after half- time, the Swan of Utrecht unleashed a looping volley over Soviet goalkeeper Rinat Dasayev from a seemingly impossible angle. It was a goal that left his manager Rinus Michels, the founding father of Total Football, rubbing his head in utter disbelief.

The Milan forward was duly given the Player of the Tournament award for his exploits, an achievement he repeated four years later as the Netherlands lost to eventual champions Denmark in the semi- finals.

His international record of 24 goals in 58 games seems low considering the slew of standout performances Van Basten turned in wearing an orange shirt, but the persistent ankle injury that dogged much of his career deprived football of arguably its greatest No. 9 at the peak of his powers. He made his final appearance – in the 1993 Champions League Final against Marseille – aged just 28.

His longevity in his compatriots’ hearts, however, has endured. In a 2004 poll listing the 100 greatest Dutch people of all time, Van Basten was voted 25th, the secondhighest ranked footballer after Johan Cruyff.

A man who flourished in the biggest moments, Van Basten’s name is permanently etched on a competition he made his own.