Rising to the occasion
El Matador was to play in three FIFA World Cup finals (Germany 1974, Argentina 1978 and Spain 1982), making a total of 18 appearances. Argentina performed disastrously in Germany, where they were knocked out in the first round after suffering at the hands of a Johann Cruyff-inspired Holland. Kempes was unable to make his presence felt in Germany, failing to score in the tournament.
Three years later Kempes was the new darling of the Valencia fans in Spain, after a record transfer for an Argentinean. Prior to the move, he had become the all-time leading goalscorer at Rosario Central, netting 100 times in just two seasons.
Kempes' record in Spanish football is impressive too; two Spanish Cups, two European Cup Winners' Cups, one European Super Cup, and twice leading marksman in La Liga, first in 1976/77 with 24 goals and again the following season with 28.
At a time when his country was living under a military dictatorship, Kempes was one of only two players tied to foreign clubs to be called up by coach Cesar Luis Menotti for the 1978 FIFA World Cup ™. "He's strong, he's got skill, he creates spaces and he shoots hard. He's a player who can make a difference, and he can play in a centre-forward position" were the words Menotti used to describe him when announcing the squad he had selected for the 1978 tournament.
