When I was young I often heard the term 'Total Football'.
Until I was 20 I was convinced it must have been a cool-as-hell tabletop football game invented in Holland that people were in love with. That was my relationship to football, half-heard conversations that I never truly understood and had no one to ask about.
Eventually I found out what Total Football actually was. It sounded brilliant. I've always loved the idea in sports of players being able to play all positions and change while the game is on to screw with the minds with the opposition.
I'm a sucker for tactics on the fly. I love a point guard in basketball who doesn't call a play based on what the coach has told him, but on how he sees the best way to score. The same with a quarterback who can ignore the offensive coach and call a play based on what the defence has done previously, without giving the opposition time to regroup.
It is a big reason why cricket is my favourite sport. The captain has to make decisions on the fly in almost all games, and I think that adds to a sport. Anyone can play in a position, but the ability to see the game as you play it so well that you can back your defender to become striker because of tactics is something very special.
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As much as I was in lust with the concept, it didn't take me long to work out what was wrong with Total Football. While the whole idea was great; the Dutch had never won a World Cup using this theory. That is a pretty gaping hole in the brilliant football tactic.
It left me deflated because in my mind I had already put Total Football up there with some of the great sporting tactics ever, right beside Ali's rope-a-dope, the Chicago Bulls' triangle offence and England's Bodyline. But the Dutch didn't win, which is the main point of sport. You can win by playing the sort of turgid football Italy play or with the magical nature of Brazil and you still feel as good about the victory if it is your team.
According to one of the many specials on Total Football I have seen recently the Dutch went up in the final against Germany in 1974 only to divide as a team after that. One half wanted to show Germany how much more skillful they were, and the other half wanted to block Germany out of the game. Maybe that is the great flaw in the whole theory, too much player power.
Maybe that is the allure of Total Football, this amazing theory that no one has ever quite mastered but that we all hope that one day will work.
And Total Football is the reason, and practically no other, why I am supporting the Dutch against the Spaniards in the final. Sure they won't be playing Total Football, but by winning they will ensure that great football nation who has given so much to the legend of football gets to raise the trophy at last.
The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of Brighton & Hove Albion FC.
