Cup semi-final was in 1998, when they were knocked out on penalties by Brazil following a 1-1 draw that included one of the greatest ever finals goals, a finish of real beauty from Dennis Bergkamp. This time around, Brazil were vanquished in the quarter-finals and South America’s only remaining contenders in South Africa stand in the way of Netherlands’ date with destiny.
Bert van Marwijk’s side have won all five of their matches in South Africa, seeing off Denmark, Japan, Cameroon, Slovakia and Brazil in a style that can be more accurately labelled as ruthlessly efficient than Total Football. Netherlands now have a great chance to exorcise the demons of ’74 and ’78, and with Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben firing on all cylinders, they appear to possess both more quality and more big-game experience than Uruguay – a nation playing their most significant match since beating Brazil to win the 1995 Copa America.
Few would have predicted Uruguay’s place in the last four before the tournament, but they have proved an opportunistic side, high on energy and talent. In a group containing a shambolic France, a South Africa team possessing less quality than any previous host nation and a flair-filled but defensively frail Mexico, Oscar Tabarez’s side advanced with some comfort to the knockout stage. Against South Korea in the second round, Luis Suarez was the hero – netting twice in a 2-1 victory and with Ghana the opposition in the quarter-finals, the Ajax striker was the saviour once more.
Suarez has been demonised by some, canonised by others, for his last-minute handball – but the subsequent red card and his suspension for this semi-final would appear ample punishment for Uruguay. The South Americans must suffer the