The 1978 World Cup was a memorable one. The teams played in a vibrant style, the Argentinean fans were wonderful and the pitches were littered with that iconic ticker tape.
There are plenty of comparisons you can draw with the current World Cup when you take a closer look at the competition overall. The tournament staged 36 years ago was the last to be held in South America after all, and it was put on before a background of social and economic plight in Argentina, as is the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
But the fervent home supporters unanimously backed their side once the action got underway, with some wonderful performances from midfield maestro Mario Kempes inspiring Argentina the World Cup final. They’d meet the Netherlands in the showpiece in Buenos Aires with both of the participating sides chasing their first ever world crown.
The match was always going to be a classic. The Argentinean team in 1978 was a wholly inconsistent one, capable of performing deplorably one game while turning in a virtuoso showing next time out. The Dutch, while arguably not boasting a team as talented as 1974 crop — especially with Johan Cruyff absent — were still a very attacking, enterprising side, that were capable of beating anyone on their day.
So as these two old foes gear up to face each other in the World Cup semi-final 36 years on, here’s a look back at a vintage final that had the lot.
Match: Argentina vs. Netherlands
Competition: 1978 World Cup
Date: 25 June 1978
Stadium: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Attendance: 71, 483
Starting lineups:
After watching the match, feel free to post your observations regarding the game in the comments section below. We’d love to hear your feedback, and whether the match lived up to its billing or not. Plus, if you have any suggestions for classic soccer matches for us to feature in future columns, let us know in the comments section below!
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