Wednesday 2 July 2014

Klaas of 2014: Huntelaar celebrates late Holland winner against Mexico with kung-fu kick on the corner flag - BUT was it a tribute to Nigel de Jong and Louis van Gaal?

Kung-fu kicks are a common theme in this Holland World Cup squad.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s exuberant celebration after scoring Holland’s winner against Mexico was the latest in a trilogy of kung-fu antics, as he acrobatically followed in the footsteps of midfielder Nigel De Jong and boss Louis Van Gaal.
Their kung-fu kicks were in slightly different circumstances though.
Flying: The Dutch striker sprints over to the corner flag after firing his spot-kick past Guillermo Ochoa
Flying: The Dutch striker sprints over to the corner flag after firing his spot-kick past Guillermo Ochoa



Concentration: Huntelaar keeps his eye on the flag as his right boot makes a clean connection
Concentration: Huntelaar keeps his eye on the flag as his right boot makes a clean connection
Technique: The striker hangs in the air as his foot clips the top of the flag
Technique: The striker hangs in the air as his foot clips the top of the flag
Follow through: The flag pings back from the force of Huntelaar's kick
Follow through: The flag pings back from the force of Huntelaar's kick

Landing: Huntelaar prepares to land after launching himself through the corner flag right-boot first
Landing: Huntelaar prepares to land after launching himself through the corner flag right-boot first
Roar: The former Real Madrid striker shouts in celebration after winning the game for Holland
Roar: The former Real Madrid striker shouts in celebration after winning the game for Holland
Emotion: The Dutch fans can be seen celebrating in the background as the cameras focus on Huntelaar
Emotion: The Dutch fans can be seen celebrating in the background as the cameras focus on Huntelaar
Connection: Huntelaar's emotions get the better of him as he boots the corner flag
Connection: Huntelaar's emotions get the better of him as he boots the corner flag
 Dutch party rumbles on
Four years ago De Jong’s flying lunge into Xabi Alonso’s midriff in the World Cup final somehow only merited a yellow card from referee Howard Webb, while Van Gaal has also got previous when it comes to performing amateur martial arts inside a football stadium.
So outraged was he that his Ajax side were not awarded a free-kick during the 1995 Champions League final against AC Milan, he mimicked Marcel Desailly’s high-foot challenge, jumping into the air in front of the fourth official and karate-kicking thin air.
Previous: Van Gaal shows his frustrations in Ajax's 1995 Champions League final win against AC Milan
Previous: Van Gaal shows his frustrations in Ajax's 1995 Champions League final win against AC Milan

Not a red: Howard Webb saw this challenge from De Jong on Alonso but only showed a yellow card
Not a red: Howard Webb saw this challenge from De Jong on Alonso but only showed a yellow card

Painful: De Jong's studs go straight into Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso's stomach during the 2010 final
Painful: De Jong's studs go straight into Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso's stomach during the 2010 final




Patrick Kluivert was a member of that Champions League-winning Ajax team, in fact the Dutch striker scored the winning goal against Milan, in the 85th minute.
And Kluivert is now part of Van Gaal's coaching staff for the national side. After the final whistle Huntelaar went straight to Kluivert and the pair embraced on the pitch at Estadio Castelao.


History: Huntelaar hugs Patrick Kluivert, who scored the winning goal in the 1995 Champions League final
History: Huntelaar hugs Patrick Kluivert, who scored the winning goal in the 1995 Champions League final


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