Van der Vaart, so the great fiasco ...

The Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has ended with his departure the Danish Midtjylland one of the great fiascos of Real Betis in recent seasons after arriving in praise of crowds like star signing and he has spent a season almost blank.

Dutch international of Spanish origin, 33, came to Betis from the German Hamburg after a successful career that began at Ajax Amsterdam and led to European clubs like Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspurs English before joining the bético team last summer.

Van der Vaart was the star signing of the new Betis sporting director, Eduardo Macia, and finally became the disgrace of its management by its zero performance and high operation, estimated at a total of seven million euros for the three years contract it signed.

It soon became clear that the Dutch came out of shape and not put too much effort to recover it to enter the dynamics of a newly promoted team that went from enthusiasm for the arrival of this international disappointment over their lack of participation and lack of commitment.

Numbers Rafael van der Vaart in the Betis are eloquent, and he has played seven games, two starts, and was replaced on many other occasions, which, coupled with the knowledge of the fans of the high cost of the operation, caused very soon the rejection of the verdiblanca stands.

This glut became apparent this summer during the presentation of T-shirts Betis, in which a substantial part of the audience began to chant the slogan "Take van der Vaart, check to Van der Vaart", commissioned to President Betis, Angel Haro.

Soon, the new coach of Betis, Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet , said he did not have the Dutch and other signings of Maciá was like the Peruvian left - back Juan Manuel Vargas or French midfielder Didier Digard , also of poor performance in his only season as verdiblancos.

Andalusian, natural mother of Chiclana de la Frontera ( Cádiz ), Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart (Heemskerk, 1983) has been international with Holland on 109 occasions, played two world and three European Championships, and the shirt Oranje has scored 25 goals.

He began his professional career at Ajax Amsterdam, continued in Hamburg, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hostspur and again in Hamburg, where he joined Real Betis.

Ireland draw with Holland in Dublin and Northern Ireland thrashed Belarus

Republic of Ireland did not draw this Friday in Dublin with the Netherlands (1-1) in their penultimate friendly before Euro next summer (June 10-July 10), while Ireland North had no trouble thrashing the weak Belarus 3-0.

A half hour both striker Shane Long looked set to give Martin O'Neill's charges a comforting victory before continental tournament, but a header from striker Luuk de Jong with four minutes remaining he avoided.

Thus, the 'boys in green' start their preparations for the continental competition with an even measured before next May 31 to Belarus in Cork.

Ireland is drawn in the 'group of death' of Euro 2016 with Sweden (June 13, Saint-Denis), Belgium (June 18, Bordeaux) and Italy (June 22, Lille).

Moreover, Northern Ireland began their preparations for the tournament in two weeks with a solid win over Belarus (3-0).

Forwards Kyle Lafferty , Conor Washington and Will Grigg saw door in Belfast, in the last friendly in Northern Irish land before Euro.

Michael O'Neill's charges, stringing eleven consecutive games without defeat, visiting Slovakia on June 4, eight days before making his debut in a European Championship.

Northern Ireland pass to the second round with Poland (June 12, Nice), Ukraine (June 16, Lyon) and Germany (June 21, Paris),

Tribute to Cruyff - emotional 14 minutes at the Amsterdam Arena

The Amsterdam Arena on Friday paid tribute to his idol Johan Cruyff in the friendly with Holland measured the France, a match that won the French table with a goal 88 minutes into the game Matuidi . Cruyff, who died Thursday at age 68 a victim of lung cancer, was fondly remembered by his countrymen in the Dutch capital, a city where he was born and succeed with Ajax. 14 minutes into the match was stopped with applause from the stands and presents on the lawn.

Esto es lo que ha pasado en el Amsterdam Arena en el minuto 14. Homenaje a Cruyff 👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/3vb6dc1WKs

— Al Primer Toque (@AlPrimerToque) March 25, 2016

The audience cheered for a minute the memory of the legendary player and coach, with the stands packed full of shirts and banners referring to the three - time winner of the Golden Ball. The stage, was also chaired by a '14', with a photo Cruyff and some flowers around it . It was an emotional night in Amsterdam, where the result was in the background. In the final stretch, the score seemed to smile despite local start with a 0-2 against. And, in 86 minutes, Ibrahim Afellay put the spending with their hands both also former FC Barcelona draw.

The tension in the Dutch because of the importance of the character who remembered was noticeable in the first few minutes. Besides better positioned France, the wisdom of man Atletico Madrid goal Griezmann put the 0-1 on the scoreboard six minutes with a free kick.

GOOLAZO de #Griezmann pic.twitter.com/4rV5nVOr32#francia #futbol #goal

— The Boss Fútbol. (@ZurdoDM10) March 25, 2016

Giroud also pieces made ​​the 0-2 just before minute 14. From there the 'Clockwork Orange' released some pressure, generally without excessive risk. Luuk de Jong pulled one back in the second half, finishing off a center part with his arm, and Afellay saw truncated his tie just two minutes later . France, host of Euro 2016 in just over two months, and imposed a Holland, largely absent from the continental event, which could not dedicate the victory to Cruyff but thousands of samples of affection at the Amsterdam Arena.

"impossible goal" of the "Flying Dutchman"

Johan Cruyff , legendary striker died Thursday at 68 a victim of lung cancer , could boast of having scored dozens of goals (almost 250 with Ajax and 51 with Barcelona ). However, there is one that, today, is still in the retina of all those who saw him in the season of 1973. Known as the " impossible goal ," the both broke the deadlock against Atletico Madrid and put in tray (if it was not already) Catalan team league.

Which was a football genius came to the Spanish league in a similar situation to that of Madrid Di Stefano . And, both both Barcelona and Real Madrid economically fought for him. At the end was the Catalan team that ended up attracting the Dutch Ajax disbursing one million dollars. A huge amount for the time. The striker came to our country with the season started , but that did not stop him acclimate quickly to the game and start making your own.

Top 5 great moments of Johan Cruyff

1. Its indirect penalty with Ajax

Cruyff is not the inventor, but his indirect penalty at Ajax in 1982, is the first that made history. The "Flaco" He agreed with Jesper Olsen to pass the ball instead of shoot on goal. Messi and Luis Suarez recently paid tribute to Cruyff repeating the penalty against Celta.

2. 0-5 at the Bernabeu

When Cruyff joined Barcelona, ​​he made his debut at the Bernabeu with a resounding 0-5 and scored a great goal: the Dutchman was taunted Benito inside the area and Velazquez and Rubiñán in a span of land. When the defense wanted to know how it would end the play, Garcia Remon already had in its goal the ball.

Johan Cruyff dies today at age 68 of a cancer victim

Johan Cruyff , legendary player and Dutch trainer, has died at age 68 in Barcelona victim of cancer. "On March 24, 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) has died in Barcelona, ​​surrounded by his family after a hard fight against cancer. We ask with great sadness that the family's privacy be respected during their time of mourning , "he announced the official website of Cruyff .

A Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer last October. Since then he was undergoing treatment to fight the disease. Just a month ago Cruyff referred to that battle with words that today sound bitter: "I think I'm winning 2-0 cancer" . In recent days his health had worsened considerably until after a trip to the Middle East began to feel ill.

In 1991 to double bypass after suffering a severe heart crisis stemming from his addiction to snuff. From that moment the coach made cigarettes. "In my life I have had two great vices: smoking and play football. Football has given me everything in life and instead, smoking, almost takes me, "then said Cruyff.

Cruyff began his career at Ajax Amsterdam , where he played ten seasons before joining Barcelona in 1973. In his country he got the biggest hits: three European Cups, one Super Cup and Intercontinental. He was also runner - up in Europe with his team at Euro 1974. His immense quality was rewarded in that period at the international level with three Golden Balls Best European Player (1971, 1973 and 1974).

In the Catalan club he remained until 1978. Since his arrival he became the leader of a talented team led by Rinus Michels, who returned to Camp Nou joy. Intelligent and with a refined técncia, Johan Cruyff  helped to return to Barca first team football and ended up with fourteen years of drought in the First Division club.

Step to the "Dream Team"

His playing career lasted until 1984 after also pass by the American football and the Levant, to retire permanently in their country.

Soon he gave way to the dugout. Ajax again was the club that gave him his first opportunity. There he applied that particular way he had of watching and playing football. After winning the Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax in 1988 repeats the path that has already made ​​as a player and signed for Barcelona, ​​where he remained until 1996. Among its achievements, the first European Cup Barca team, achieved in 1992. Johan Cruyff  was a revolutionary the dugout. His methods and his strong charisma Barca forged the famous Dream Team, the beginning of a style that continued after Rijkaard and Guardiola, and today the club continues to operate.

After leaving the club only he returned to the bench temporarily to take charge of the Catalan football team.