sparkling form since returning from injury and the loss of Fucile, who was expected to provide a stern test after proving one of Uruguay’s most impressive performers in South Africa, is a big blow. Alvaro Pereira, who has been deployed as a left winger during the tournament, has displayed his ability at left-back for club side Porto and will have the pace, if not the defensive nous, to track Robben. The other options are dependent on the fitness of captain Digeo Lugano and fellow centre-backs Godin and Victorino; if the former is fit than one of the latter two may switch to the left and take up a man-marking job on Van Marwijk’s most explosive weapon.
Trivia: New Zealand could feasibly finish as the only unbeaten side at the 2010 World Cup, should the winner of this clash between Netherlands and Uruguay go on to lose the final.
Stats: Uruguay are without a win in their last 13 World Cup finals games against European opposition (six draws, seven losses) with their last success over a European side coming in 1970 when they beat the Soviet Union 1-0 at the quarter-final stage.
Odds: Uruguay (7.50), Netherlands (1.61) and the draw (3.50) are all on offer at Bet365. Wesley Sneijder to score first might be worth a flutter at 8.00.
Prediction: South America’s sole representatives have yet to face a side of Netherlands’ quality and it could well be their undoing. The loss of key players in Suarez and Fucile presents dilemmas in both tactics and personnel for Uruguay, and the Dutch are primed to fully exploit their deficiencies, after fighting back to beat Brazil. Robben and Sneijder hold the key; expect them to have what it takes to unlock the Uruguay defence and book a place in the final.
Tuesday 6th