Fc Sideburns

jobs

Maybe the fact that the commentator tells us what jobs the Greek players have, has something to do with the bad passing. So and so is a lawyer, another one studies science, a third works in construction. When were they ever going to practice their passes over 40 metres?
Anyway, the Ajax players weren't much better in their accuracy.

pace

Jack Taylor too kept his distance. You hardly see him on the screen but when you do, you notice he has a large presence: Taylor is a big, heavy guy, not too quick on his feet.
At first he is very strict about the exact place where a free kick has to be taken. Free kicks and throw-ins have to retaken a couple of times, but then, 30 minutes into the match he allows more and the pace quickens. Taylor must have been thinking about these things: first he establishes the rules, then he deviates from it to speed up the match. Don't forget it's a final (which a viewer from this century may forget watching this match).

finally

When he finally allows a free kick to be taken from the "wrong" spot, Taylor himself starts to run a little faster too. And while running he manages to warn a player for a little foul he had just committed, a foul Taylor had not whistled for since it wasn't bad enough. This is the real start of the match, now it finally gets going.

body language

Taylor uses his body language well. Since he hardly moves, every move means something.
I like the way he stands there with his foot on the ball, not gesticulating nor shouting, just a nod to someone (I'm relaxed and in control) or the way he slightly bends his body to a Greek player ("hey you there little fellow, yes you: move a few steps back will you? There's a good boy")

..

match

Ajax keeper Heinz Stuy must have been nervous in the first half, in fact he is really bad, but never tried by the Greek.
The Greek goalie wears black, just like the ref (come to think of it: how come this is in colour?).
The Dutch keep having to sweep the hair from their faces and they all have massive sideburns. Famous player Johan Cruijff is not at his best, but defender Barry Hulshoff is, this big guy heads back every ball the Greek manage to get in the box.
You can't say Ajax were much better than Panathinaikos, but there is a paradox here: the Total Football advocates (the team is more important than the individual, all players have to take up all roles) had a few exceptionally good individual players.

And at the end of the match the spectators are allowed on the field to congratulate the players. Hah!