Date: 25-04-1976
Stage: 1/4 final
Place: ROTTERDAM
Running time: 25 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: DVD (9,5)
Commentary: dutch
My rating: ****
Notes: Krol, Neeskens, Rep, Cruijff
MATCH SUMMARY
Sunday, 25 April 1976 – 15:00
De Kuip, Rotterdam
Attendance: 35,000
Weather: dry
NETHERLANDS
Piet Schrijvers
Wim Suurbier
Ruud Krol
Wim Rijsbergen
Adri van Kraay
Wim Jansen
Johan Neeskens
Willy van de Kerkhof
Johnny Rep
Rob Rensenbrink
Johan Cruyff
Coach: George Knobel
84′ ↓Johan Neeskens ↑Jan Peters
Wim Rijsbergen
BELGIUM
Christian Piot
Eric Gerets
Maurice Martens
Gilbert Van Binst
Georges Leekens
Julien Cools
René Vandereycken
Jan Verheyen
Ludovic Coeck
Roger Van Gool
Raoul Lambert
Coach: Raymond Goethals
46′ ↓Julien Cools ↑François Van der Elst
83′ ↓Raoul Lambert ↑Jacques Teugels
Jan Verheyen
François Van der Elst
Referee: Jean Dubach (Switzerland)
Goals: 17′ Rijsbergen (NED), 28′ Rensenbrink (NED), 58′ Rensenbrink (NED), 80′ Neeskens (NED, pen), 85′ Rensenbrink (NED)
Match overview
The Netherlands demolished Belgium 5–0 in the first leg of the Euro 1976 quarter-finals in Rotterdam. Rensenbrink scored a memorable hat-trick, and goals from Rijsbergen and Neeskens sealed a dominant performance. Johan Cruyff orchestrated the attack with brilliance.
Belgium struggled to contain the Dutch midfield and were already trailing 3–0 before the hour mark. The result effectively decided the tie before the return leg in Brussels.
One of the most complete Dutch performances of the decade, showing the lasting strength of “Total Football”.
Trivia
Rob Rensenbrink’s hat-trick was the only one ever scored by a Dutch player against Belgium in an official UEFA competition match.
