article by Nicola Pucci
It’s June 25, 1978, and for Argentina it is the most important day in its sporting history: the Albiceleste, in front of the public, friends of the “Monumental Stadium” say Buenos Aires, beats the Netherlands and wins its first world football title. Always awaited, and undoubtedly “designed” in the intentions since 6 July 1966, a few days before the opening of the World Cup in England, the South American country was assigned the organization of the 11th edition of the main international event.
Passing through a first group stage in which Luis Cesar Menotti’s Argentina, after victories against Hungary and France, loses to Italy thanks to a splendid goal by Bettega, moving from the capital to Rosario for the second round matches, here is the victory against Poland, 2-0 with a brace from Mario Kempes, the draw against Brazil, 0-0, and the “jam” against Peru, 6-0 a few hours after the green and gold in turn defeated Poland, a useless 3-1 which due to the goal difference is not enough to overtake Argentina in the standings, they open the doors of the final to the home team. On the other hand, that same Netherlands which had already been finalists four years earlier in Germanyin its second version certainly less glittering and devoid of that Johan Cruijff who had elevated it to one of the most innovative and strongest teams in the entire history of football.
The final, long awaited by the military junta that took power in Argentina with the 1976 coup d’état (a reason that risked calling into question the holding of the tournament, with the Netherlands itself threatening a boycott, thanks to the persecution imposed by the regime presided over by General Jorge Videla), can take place, the best way to distract the people from the atrocities committeda result certainly achieved given the participation in the event, not only by those present at the matches, but also by the entire country, demonstrating, once again, how “football is the opium of the people“.
Sunday 25 June 1978 therefore represents a “historical data for Argentine soccer“, which he finally has the possibility of playing one’s cards to win a title which so far has ended up twice in Uruguay’s trophy cabinet and three times in Brazil’seven if the opponent is very respectable, that is to say a Netherlands who, alas, find themselves having to face the home team in the final for the second time in a row.
Happel did not make any changes to the eleven that beat Italy in the decisive match of the semi-final round2-1 with goals from Brandts and Haan overturning the Italian advantage produced by Brandts’ own goal, except for the confirmation of Jongbloed between the postsas Schrijvers had not recovered from the injury that forced him to leave the pitch at the moment of the Italian 1-0, while Menotti recovers Ardiles, although not in the best condition, and the choice for the role of left wing falls on Ortiz.
Instead, the arduous task of directing the final act falls to the Italian referee Sergio Gonellaassisted by the Austrian Linnemayr and the Uruguayan Ramon Barreto, in front of a “Monumental Stadium” packed with over 70 thousand spectators for a white and blue overall picture.
There is no doubt that the two teams are made up of players capable of offering a spectacle worthy of a world final and, in fact, the first half sees both teams working hard in this sense, with the guests having the first opportunity with a header by Rep outside of nothing to a beaten Fillol, to which Passarella replies, however, volleying over the crossbar from a good position, and then touching the same Fillol performs a difficult deflection in the air following Rep’s shot from inside the area.
The rigid marking and the attention that the respective defenses place in stemming the opponent’s maneuvers mean that real goal opportunities do not present themselves to either of the two contenders, at least until Kempes is unable to find an opening to wedge himself centrally in the Dutch rearguard and anticipate Jongbloed’s exit in a slide to score the goal that unlocks the result, 1-0 in the 38th minute and jubilation in the stands with thousands of pieces and strips of paper thrown onto the field according to the classic South American style, a score with which the two teams go to rest, also because, right at the end of the half, still Fillol opposes with his body a sure shot from Rensenbrink from a few steps awaya situation that will have the opportunity to repeat itself an hour later.
Upon returning to the pitch, we witness the worst part of the match, with the players of both teams exchanging forbidden shots – in many cases even with dramatic dramas aimed at exacerbating the effects to induce the race director to take disciplinary measures -, so that the show suffers and, except for a sensational missed opportunity by Kempesthanks also to a courageous exit by Jonglboed following a through ball from Luque, the race is approaching the end without any particular shocks, with Happel playing the Nanninga card in place of Rep in the 59th minute and then sending Suurbier onto the pitch in the 72nd minute in place of Jansen, with the aim of outflanking the Argentine defence.
Moves to which Menotti responds by removing the exhausted and not at his best Ardiles, replaced in the 65th minute by Larrosa, just as it is Houseman’s turn to replace Ortiz in the 74th minute for a match finale in which only the final whistle is awaited, but which comes at the opposite subverted when the Argentine defense does not apply the offside tactic perfectly, allowing René van de Kerkhof, who has broken free along the right wing, to deliver an inviting cross into the center which the new substitute Nanninga turns with his head into the netcausing the frost to descend on the stands of the Monumental.
Frost that risks turning into ice when – in a sort of replica of the “Maracanazo” of Brazilian memory of 1950 – right in the last minute it is Rensenbrink again who has the winning ball on his foot, his left-footed touch from a few steps this time goes past Fillol who came towards him in desperation only to hit the right post and return to the pitch. Even the “football gods” have decided that the Netherlands should not be crowned world champions.
The averted danger gives new vigor to the “Albiceleste“, who faces extra courage with more courage, with Houseman challenging Jongbloed with his right on the rebound, and again Kempes who stands out as the protagonist of the evening, with a percussion that leads him to skip two defenders like skittles and then see his shot blocked by Jongbloed’s body, having however the opportunity for a second chance as the ball remains at distance foot and his touch – in a suspected dangerous play – anticipates the intervention of two Dutch defenders, sending the ball into the net for the 2-1 pointright at the end of the first extension.
For the “Orange” it’s about the knockout blow, which becomes final in the 115th minute when the inspired Kempes again wedges himself into the area, exchanging with Bertoni in a rebound which sees the ball also touched with the upper limbs by the two attackers before the future Fiorentina foreigner deposits it into the net for the 3-1 final and ensure that Argentina can also boast a world champion title in its palmares and the country forgets, at least for one night, its miseries, with a Buenos Aires celebrating the long-awaited triumph and the TV broadcasting the image of Captain Daniel Passarella carried in triumph with the coveted trophy in hand across the planet.
ARGENTINA 3 (Kempes 38′ e 105′, Bertoni 115′) – OLANDA 1 (Nanninga 82′)
ARGENTINA: Fillol; Olguin, Tarantini; Gallego, Galvan, Passarella (cap.); Bertoni, Ardiles (Larrosa 65′), Luque, Kempes, Ortiz (Houseman 74′). There. Menotti.
WHEN: Youngblood; Poortvliet; Brandts; Jansen (Suurbier 72′), Krol (cap.), Haan; Rep (Nanninga 59′), Neeskens, Willy van de Kerkhof, René van de Kerkhof, Rensenbrink. All. Happel.
Referee: Sergio Gonella (Italy)
2024-05-16 10:59:00
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