FIFA Semifinals: Netherlands-Uruguay Preview

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Tuesday, July 6: The Netherlands and Uruguay are surprise World Cup semifinalists for different reasons - the Oranje upset five-time champion Brazil, and La Celeste survived the most dramatic moment of this tournament and perhaps its 80-year history.

 

 

The two countries now find themselves one win away from soccer’s grandest stage as they collide Tuesday at Cape Town.

With as much talent as mercurial temperament, the Netherlands have shown flashes of friction en route to its first semifinal since 1998. However, the Dutch also showed a great deal of mettle in rallying to a 2-1 victory Friday.

The Oranje regrouped after conceding an early goal and pressed forward purposefully in the second half. Wesley Sneijder scored both goals, including the winner in the 68th minute as the diminutive midfielder headed home a flicked-on corner kick.

As impressive as the victory was, coach Bert van Marwijk knows the Dutch still need two more wins for their long sought-after first World Cup title.

"We have witnessed it before in the past,’’ he said. "Think about two years ago in Austria and Switzerland. We beat Italy and France and everybody already thought we would become European champions.

’’But we didn’t even survive the quarterfinals because we thought that we were already there. That’s what I’ve tried to make clear, that this has to be different.’’

Van Marwijk must make two changes to his lineup since midfielder Nigel de Jong and defender Gregory van der Wiel are suspended. Joris Mathijsen likely will take van der Wiel’s spot after missing the quarterfinals with injury.

Uruguay is back in the final four for the first time since 1970, getting there in heart-stopping fashion. Desperately trying to fend off a push by Ghana in the final minute of extra time, forward Luis Suarez cleared one sure goal off the line before knocking away a second one with a deliberate handball that resulted in his ejection and a penalty kick for the Black Stars.

La Celeste, though, got a reprieve after Asamoah Gyan thumped the crossbar with his potential game-winner. In the ensuing shootout, Uruguay ended the title dreams of the last African team as Sebastian Abreu coolly chipped home a goal from the 12-yard spot.

Despite being the last team to qualify for the World Cup, La Celeste have forged a strong self-confidence after surviving the rigorous process of qualifying in South America by displaying a tactical balance offensively and defensively in South Africa.

"We were the last team to qualify - and we had to play 20 games to get here,’’ midfielder Diego Perez said. "Passing through those difficult moments made us stronger and that’s been a help as we’ve progressed. Now we will try to keep going.’’

Without the suspended Suarez, striker Diego Forlan has a heavier offensive burden to carry. He has three goals in the tournament, including a long-range free kick that tied Ghana.

The Netherlands won the only World Cup meeting between the teams, 2-0 in group play in 1974.