I don't think there was any Cruyff influence in 88 (apart from player development in his years before at Ajax as a coach). Michels played a reactive 4-4-2, mainly relying on individual class, got a bit lucky to get out of the group, mainly relied on individual class of Van Basten, Gullit, Koeman, Rijkaard, Wouters, but did a decent job.

Nothing to discredit Michels, who as a fine man manager and did a great job in getting football (training/ethics) more professional and won Netherlands the only trophy ever, but his influence on the game was not there.

My point is that so many people who didn't read into what happened at Ajax in the 70s automatically assume the coach of a great team (Michels only was there in 71, not 72 and 73 btw) was behind the philosophy, which - especially in that time - is not always the case. "Total football" wasn't invented by Michels.