The Defining Moment
Netherlands 1978
The Netherlands reached their second consecutive final at Argentina 1978, but this time without Johan Cruyff, who refused to participate in a tournament organised by a military dictatorship. Even so, the Clockwork Orange fought to the very end. In the final at the Monumental, Argentina took the lead through Mario Kempes, but Dick Nanninga headed home an equaliser. Rob Rensenbrink came agonisingly close to glory: his shot in the dying seconds of normal time struck the post centimetres from giving Holland the title. In extra time, Kempes and Bertoni sealed a 3-1 win before a delirious stadium. Two finals, two defeats the Dutch curse was cemented as the great tragedy of world football.
