Historic Enmity Between Germany and Netherlands Shown in The World Cup

The football match between Germany and the Netherlands is not only a match to determine the winner, but the Dutch people consider it an opportunity to avenge the blood of those who died in the German invasion and restore dignity, "according to the headlines of the Dutch newspapers before any match between the two teams.

“I hate them, every time I play against Germany, I get angry, they killed my family, my father, my sister, and two of my brothers.” Wim van Hannegem's statement after the 1974 World Cup final might show you how hostile the Dutch are to the Germans.

Although FIFA always works to refuse to mix politics with sports, in this match, in particular, the impact of the political relationship is clear to all observers on what is happening on the field and is also reflected in the headlines of the newspapers in the two countries and the statements of the players before and after the matches.

We return by our story to June 24, 1990, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, the round of 16 matches of the 1990 World Cup, between West Germany and the Netherlands, the European champions.

The big match started, and as expected, it witnessed a roughness that is closer to being deliberate on the part of the Dutch team against the German players, amid attempts by Juan Carlos, the Argentine referee, each time to calm things down.

An exciting 20 minutes of the match passed until the ball reached Voller, who passed with great skill from Dutch defender Perry van Aerel, to find in front of him Frank Rijkaard, who found no way to stop him except with a violent intervention on his foot.

The Argentine referee did not hesitate and whistled for the foul and hurried to Rijkaard to show the yellow card to him, which drive the player crazy, because he was confirmed to miss the quarterfinals if his country qualified because of obtaining two cards.

Rijkaard headed towards Rudi Voller and spat on him, specifically on his hair, without being seen by the Argentine referee.

A violent altercation occurred between the duo Voller and Rijkaard after the incident of spitting, and the German striker addressed his words to the Dutch defender, who accused Voller at the time of describing him as a "llama animal "before Voller stated after the match that Rijkaard told him: "I will take you to the grave."

After several minutes, Rijkaard returned to attacking Voller, pushing him and dropping him to the ground.

The Argentine referee, fed up with the two players' quarrels, and he sendoff them at the 22nd minute.

The incident did not end with the expulsion, as the players left the field, Rijkaard again spat at Voller!

After the match, Voller stated, "Rijkaard spat at me twice and I was punished and sent off without doing anything."

The relationship remained tense between the players despite Rijkaard's apology, and they faced them more than once in the Italian League, where Rijkaard was playing in AC Milan and Voller in Rome.

Until a Dutch butter company agreed with the players to act in a commercial for its products in 1996, and indeed the two players appeared in the commercial and it was a reconciliation between them.