in South Africa, including knocking out Brazil 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
He spotlighted Arjen Robben as their biggest danger and denied that he was a diver.
“He’s a great footballer,” Tabarez said. “He’s very fast, very nimble, very long strides. When he shifts his body it’s difficult to react.
“With Robben back, this Holland side benefits greatly. They were already very good without him, but now they have him contributing as well.
“Like any footballer who is hit on the pitch, well, I wouldn’t say he is a ‘cheat.’ These are things that happen in football. It’s up to the referee to determine the players’ intentions.”
The Dutch are looking to recreate the 1970s glory era, with coach Bert van Marwijk placing his trust in Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie.
Neither man enjoyed the best of domestic seasons and Van Persie has not always cut a contented figure in South Africa amid rumours of a sour relationship with star man Wesley Sneijder.
But Van Marwijk is happy to have the duo on board for a journey that took such an unexpected twist with that fabulous quarter-final triumph over Brazil.
“I read somewhere that when Rafael Benitez picked a team at Liverpool, he wrote Kuyt’s name down first. That says everything,” Van Marwijk said.
“Every player has a period where things don’t work out and Liverpool had a very tough year, but Kuyt is extremely important for us.
“The way he plays shows his passion and enthusiasm, and it is catching.”
Van Persie was out of action for five months after suffering a major ankle injury on international duty last November.
It has taken the Arsenal star a bit of time to find his form, with just one