after an unconvincing group stage performance the netherlands knew they had to play better if they were to qualify for the finals, and took on surprise qualifiers austria in their first game. they started well when an unmarked ernie brandts headed in arie haan's free kick. the dutch then won a penalty kick after gerhard breitenberger fouled wim jansen and rob rensenbrink neatly scored. rensenbrink then took advantage of some poor defending to provide assist for johnny rep to score on either side of half time. austria which created several chances and were unlucky to score in the first half got one back in the eightieth minute when defender erich obermayer scored a brilliant lob over the dutch goalkeeper for a goal. the dutch weren't to be deterred as rensenbrink provided yet another assist this time willy van de kerkhof to score just two minutes later.