Few get to experience playing in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a World Cup do-or-die game but billions can marvel at the ability of those very special players who have shown the composure and the ability to decide games in their final moments. If you look in the Dutch dictionary for Composure and Ability we believe you'd find the words Dennis and Bergkamp.

Let's rewind to  July 4th 1998. Stade Velodrome in Marseille. The quarter-final match between Holland and Argentina is heading for extra time.  A long cross-field ball is launched from the left side towards the right hand side of the Argentine penalty area. You're the Dutch centre forward underneath the rapidly approaching ball - what do you do next? Well, if you're anything like us you probably mis-control the ball slightly allowing the defender to get a toe in to put the ball out for a throw in and both sides settle for extra-time. However, if you're Dennis Bergkamp you decide to kill the ball stone dead with your first touch with your right foot before deftly flicking the ball back inside with your left foot (nutmegging a World Class defender in the process) before half volleying past the goal keeper with your right foot to win the game in your last minute. And fittingly if should ever  find yourself capable of such sublime skill under such pressure you can reasonably expect to leave commentators with no-where to go other than repeat your name over, and over, and over, and over again.

 

 

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