Mario Kempes and the Missed Penalty that Denied Argentina the 1978 World Cup

 Mario Kempes and the Missed Penalty that Denied Argentina the 1978 World Cup

When fans recall the 1978 World Cup, they often look back at Maradona’s famous Hand of God goal against England, or the fact that Italy hadn’t won the tournament since 1938. But those who follow Argentine football might instead ask, Did Argentina win any World Cup? They did, in fact—but it came at such a high price that many Argentines consider it more of a loss than an actual victory.

The Background

It was 1978 and Argentina had the chance to win their first ever World Cup. For the host nation, it seemed like a golden opportunity for glory and redemption after years of political turmoil. The country had been divided and exhausted by the Falklands War just two years earlier, and winning the tournament could be a unifying moment for the entire nation. 

At the end of the tournament, Argentina were in the final against the Netherlands and were leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mario Kempes. However, with just over ten minutes left, Holland equalized. Then, in extra time, Kempes was presented with a chance to win the World Cup for his country when he was fouled in the box. But his resulting penalty kick was saved by Dutch goalkeeper Jan Jongbloed and the game ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time.

The game went to a penalty shootout but Argentina's dreams of victory were dashed as they missed three of their five attempts while the Netherlands converted all four of theirs. In the end, the Netherlands won 3-1 on penalties and Argentina’s hopes of winning their first ever World Cup were cruelly denied.

Despite their disappointment, the Argentinians showed immense courage and resilience during the tournament and won many admirers around the world. However, for Mario Kempes and the rest of his team-mates, the memory of that missed penalty will haunt them forever.

The Match

On June 25, 1978, the world of soccer was on the edge of its seat. The Argentinean national team was up against their rival, the Netherlands, in the final game of the 1978 World Cup. Argentina had been dominating throughout the tournament and this match was their chance to bring home the coveted trophy. 

Both teams entered the match with plenty of confidence, but it was the Argentineans who opened the scoring early. In the eighth minute, Mario Kempes scored a beautiful goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. 

The Dutch fought back valiantly and equalized in the 55th minute. However, that didn't stop the Argentines from continuing to press forward and, in the 73rd minute, Kempes scored again to make it 2-1.

With just minutes left in the match, it seemed as though Argentina were on their way to winning the World Cup. However, in the 86th minute, Dutch defender Bjorn Krol made a handball inside the penalty box and a penalty was awarded to Argentina.

Kempes had a chance to seal victory for his team with one final shot. Unfortunately, his shot sailed wide and went out of bounds. The Dutch took advantage of their reprieve and went on to score a dramatic equalizer in extra time to force a tie at 2-2.

The Missed Penalty

In 1978, Argentina had a chance to become the first South American country to win a World Cup on home soil. However, this dream was dashed when Mario Kempes missed a crucial penalty in the final against the Netherlands.

Kempes was Argentina's star striker and had scored twice in the tournament already. He was also the top scorer in La Liga that season with 28 goals. As a result, it was widely assumed he would score the penalty and win the match for Argentina. 

The final score was 3-1 in favor of the Netherlands, and the game went to extra time. Kempes took the penalty kick in the 100th minute and had a great opportunity to give his country the edge. However, it went wide of the left post and his team was unable to recover from the miss. 

Kempes' miss was the defining moment of the match, and it robbed Argentina of a World Cup victory. The Argentinian players and fans were visibly devastated after the match, but their hearts were still full of pride knowing they had come so close to glory. 

It is a shame that Mario Kempes' name is forever linked to this missed penalty, as he was one of the best strikers of his generation. While Argentina did not win that year, Kempes' performance in that tournament cemented his place in Argentine football history.

The Aftermath

The 1978 World Cup is remembered as one of the most iconic finals in football history, with Argentina winning their first ever World Cup. However, it could have been very different. After the game went to a penalty shootout, Mario Kempes had the chance to win the game for Argentina. Unfortunately, he missed his penalty and the Netherlands eventually won the shootout.

Kempes’ miss was met with shock and disbelief from Argentine fans who had dreamed of their country winning the World Cup for years. The disappointment of losing was further compounded by the knowledge that they were just one kick away from glory. 

For Mario Kempes, the missed penalty was a difficult pill to swallow. He was widely considered to be one of the best players of the tournament, having already scored twice in the final itself. Despite this, he would always be remembered as the player who failed to convert his penalty in a match which decided the fate of the World Cup. 

Kempes eventually retired from international football in 1984, having earned 35 caps and scored 20 goals for Argentina. While he never got another chance to win the World Cup, his legacy as a fantastic footballer will live on in Argentina forever.