Editing Rob Rensenbrink (section)

== International career ==
[[File:Aankomst Nederlands elftal op Schiphol nr. 18 Rensenbrin met dochter, nr. 19 Zw, Bestanddeelnr 929-7932.jpg|thumb|Rob Rensenbrink with his daughter at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]] following return from [[Argentina]] in 1978]]
Rensenbrink made his international debut for the [[Netherlands national football team]] against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in 1968, but picked up relatively few caps due to competition for the forward positions with [[Johan Cruijff]] and [[Piet Keizer]]. However, [[Rinus Michels]] included him for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] squad that made the short trip to [[West Germany]].

The Dutch side that took part in the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] were the pinnacle of [[Total Football]]. Most of the 1974 team were made up of players from [[AFC Ajax]] and [[Feyenoord Rotterdam|Feyenoord]], so Rensenbrink was an outsider and was unfamiliar with playing the system. His preferred position was up front on the left, but that position was already [[Johan Cruijff]]'s domain, so he played on the left-wing position in midfield, taking over from Ajax player [[Piet Keizer]]. He missed one game in the tournament (when Keizer played instead) and was only half-fit for the final after picking up an injury during the semi-final against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]. Rinus Michels gambled on Rensenbrink's fitness and played him from start – however he only lasted until half-time and was replaced by [[René van de Kerkhof]]. The Netherlands took an early lead through a [[Johan Neeskens]] penalty, but goals from [[Paul Breitner]] and [[Gerd Müller]] gave [[Germany national football team|
West Germany]] a 2–1 victory. Rensenbrink's performances saw him named to the team of the tournament and he was sought by Ajax as a replacement for Keizer. However, contract negotiations fell through and he remained at Anderlecht.<ref>{{cite web|title=Player Profile on Robbie Rensenbrink|url=https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwL4ev1QI1K6T25SWEpreFFtcDQ/edit?pli=1|website=World Soccer, 1977|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513110953/https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwL4ev1QI1K6T25SWEpreFFtcDQ/edit?pli=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rensenbrink stayed in the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]] during the qualifiers and finals of the [[1976 European Football Championship]]. However, the Netherlands fell at the semi-final stage to [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]].

In the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]] tournament in [[Argentina]], the Netherlands again reached the final, but this time without Cruijff (who decided to retire from international football) and under the guidance of [[Ernst Happel]] rather than Michels. Out of the shadow of Cruijff, Rensenbrink found more room to showcase his own considerable talent, playing on the left-hand side of a front three alongside [[Johnny Rep]] and [[René van de Kerkhof]]. He scored a [[hat-trick]] in the opening game against [[Iran national football team|Iran]], a penalty against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] which was goal number 1,000 in [[Football World Cup|FIFA World Cup]] history and another spot-kick in the 5–1 win over [[Austria national football team|Austria]]. In the final against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], the Netherlands yet again met the hosts. The Netherlands fell behind to a first-half [[Mario Kempes]] strike. After [[Dick Nanninga]]'s equalizer nine minutes from time, a long pass from the Dutch captain [[Ruud Krol]] in the last 30 seconds of normal time gave Rensenbrink a half-chance, but his shot from a very narrow angle hit the post and was cleared by a defender.<ref>[https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13169168.last-post-rensenbrink-plays-back-painful-miss/ 'Last post: Rensenbrink plays back painful miss']. ''The Herald'', 9 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2024</ref> Had he scored, it is almost certain that the Netherlands would have won the World Cup with Rensenbrink being top goal scorer. Argentina scored twice in extra-time for a 3–1 victory and the Netherlands again had to settle for the runners-up spot.<ref name=Caple>{{cite web |url=https://www.theversed.com/71224/rob-rensenbrink-a-post-away-from-being-a-legend/#.7uT8eY6ZUS |title=Rob Rensenbrink: A Post Away From Being A Legend |last=Caple |first=Alex |date=29 September 2017 |access-date=9 July 2018 |work=The Versed |publisher=Clickon Media |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005249/https://www.theversed.com/71224/rob-rensenbrink-a-post-away-from-being-a-legend/#.7uT8eY6ZUS |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rensenbrink played some of the qualifiers for [[1980 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 80]], but after earning his 46th cap in 1979 (a 2–0 defeat by Poland in a qualifier for [[1980 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 80]]), he retired from international football at the age of 32, having scored 14 times for his country. He along with [[Eusébio]] are the only players to score the most goals from a penalty spot in a tournament (4 in 1978).

He was named by [[Pelé]] as one of the [[FIFA 100|top 125 greatest living footballers]] in March 2004. He was also named [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]'s greatest ever foreign player in 2008.