He shows me another picture, taken two years later — in the Arena — on the night of the first leg of Ajax’s Champions’ League semi-final against Juventus. The tactical pattern of the game — and the moment when the world understood that Van Gaal’s Bosmanravaged Ajax was finished — is captured in a single image. Four black-and-white-shirted Juventus players — Lombardo, Zidane (who has the ball at his feet), Inzaghi and Vieri — are attacking in a neat curved line five metres from the Ajax penalty area. Facing them are just two Ajax defenders, Bogarde and Mario Melchiot. Goalkeeper Van der Sar is on his line. Juventus won the match 2-1 and later crushed Ajax 4-1 in the second leg in Turin. ‘Newspaper picture editors always say it’s much more dramatic to have a closeup. That is bullshit. The problem is basically they don’t understand football, they don’t know what they’re looking at. Of course, yes, it is nice also to have close-ups, to see footballers looking like heroes. But you need both kinds of picture. What can be more dramatic than this? Four Italian attackers converging on two Dutch defenders. It’s a terrifying image.’
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Photo: Hans van der Meer
Text: David Winner, Brilliant Orange
