Ajax shock Europe's biggest clubs on their run to Champions League semi-finals

Just 10 days after the World Cup final in late July, Ajax played Austrian side Sturm Graz and won 2-0. It was not a pre-season friendly, but a Champions League second-round qualifier.

Some of the other victors at that stage were MOL Vidi, Shkendija and Astana. The point is Ajax were not supposed to make it this far.

But here they are, a new generation every bit as exciting as the club's European champions of 1995, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf et al.

For much of the two decades since that side was disbanded, Amsterdam's biggest impression on Europe has come via its airport.

But much like the Schiphol Airport of today — fluid movement and clinically efficient, yet stylish — the city's football team is now an equally impressive feat of engineering and application.

Schiphol is a major transport hub, invariably a stopping-off point en route to elsewhere. Sadly, for Ajax, the same looks set to be true of this captivating young side, but not before they face Premier league opponents in the Champions League semi-final.

'When you have guys that are 19, 20, playing at this high level, every match, it's normal that the big teams will come around with their big bag of money,' said Lasse Schone, a relative veteran at 32.

'But we aren't talking about that. We still have three titles to go for (Champions League, Eredivisie and Dutch Cup) and that's what we're focused on.'

Midfielder Frenkie de Jong has already agreed to join Barcelona — and what better way to sign off than with Ajax's first Champions League trophy in 24 years?

'That sounds like a good plan,' added Schone. Ajax are good at planning. Just like Schiphol, their success is no accident.'

After the 2-1 win at Juventus, which followed the scalp of Real Madrid, the club tweeted pictures of their scorers, Donny van de Beek and captain Matthijs de Ligt, 21 and 19 respectively.

But the images of the pair were as children, Ajax kit and all, already part of the club's fabled academy. 'Our boys' read the caption.

'We did it our way and were true to the way we want to play football,' added Schone. 'We've beaten two of the biggest teams in the world. So yes, why not (win)? This belief is something you create. It has been a long journey, but an incredible one.'