Cruyff: Holland problems started two years ago

Johan Cruyff believes the problems that saw Holland crash out of Euro 2012 after failing to win a single point start at the top.

There was talk of disharmony between the players at the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, and although legend Cruyff refused to name names, he implied the likes of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and coach Bert van Marwijk were responsible.

He wrote in his column in De Telegraaf: “Every problem starts at the top.

“There have been huge mistakes. Especially in the last year.

“Our performances went downhill, and no measures were taken. Many teams have taken more and more characteristics of Dutch football, and we were pretty much the only team not to.

“What happened at the European Championship was a result of two years earlier (at the World Cup).”