Determined to go one better than the runners-up spot earned at the 1974 tournament, the Dutch qualified comfortably for the 1978 competition ahead of local rivals Belgium and traveled to Argentina in confident mood.

Form was slow to build, however, and qualification from the group stage was uncharacteristically awkward following a draw with Peru and defeat to Scotland. It all clicked into place during the second group stage though: Rob Rensenbrink and Johnny Rep started scoring at will to power the Dutch all the way to the Final thanks to wins against Austria and Italy and a draw against West Germany.

Sadly, the Final proved a repeat of four years earlier with an extra-time defeat to the hosts despite a fine performance over the 120 minutes.