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Cruyff slams English league policies

Johan Cruyff has attacked the Premier League's lack of homegrown talent

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Johan Cruyff believes England and Italy have suffered at the World Cup because their domestic leagues are too reliant on foreign players.

Cruyff, whose Dutch side lost to West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final, points to a lack of homegrown talent to explain both nations' disappointing tournaments, saying he favours FIFA's '6 plus 5' rule.

Italy finished bottom of a group which contained New Zealand, Slovakia and Paraguay while England laboured through their group only to be thrashed 4-1 by Germany in the second round.

"There are far too many foreign players in England and Italy," Cruyff said. "It means 50% of the starting line-ups for the national teams don't even play in the first ranked team in their own league.

"And the policies of football are behind this. It's these policies that mean Inter can win the Champions League without having one Italian in their side. And then a few weeks later you see what a disaster the Italian national side is.

"And if the governing body of football can't change their politics then the national federations should do something. That is why I am a big supporter of the '6 plus 5' rule. But I feel like I am out in the desert on my own shouting in support of this system.

"It's time for there to be a balance in the number of home players and foreign players."

Brazil lasted longer than both Italy or England but they were still heavily criticised for their defeat to the Netherlands in the quarter-final and Cruyff thinks their flair players were stifled by a lack of creativity in midfield.

"Comparing Holland to Brazil, you have to say in terms of population Brazil is a huge country," he said. "In my youth you had heroes from Brazil - players who always stayed in your mind.

"But if you think of the Brazil team today and look at the midfield, I have already forgotten their names. It means they didn't give you anything. But Brazil has the players, they just didn't want to play in that open way.

"There are some teams that I don't even remember they played in South Africa. And that is a big disappointment. It's sad for these countries. If you go to a World Cup, maybe it's a once in a lifetime chance for you, so do something and be proud. And they didn't, so that is a big pity."

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