It’s Netherlands vs Uruguay at Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, for the World Cup 2010 semifinals this July 6, 2010. Game will start at 2:30pm ET (that will be around 2am Philippine time). The winner of this match will meet the victor of the Germany vs Spain semifinal match. Finals day is on July 11, 2010.

Uruguay

It is a surprise to a lot of people that these two teams will meet at the semis. Uruguay was the last team to qualify having to go through a playoff series with Costa Rica after Argentina edged them for the last automatic berth in CONMEBOL. Then they were in a group with former champion France and hometown boys South Africa. Undefeated in all three matches, they topped the group ahead of Mexico.

Despite being World Cup champions in 1930 and 1950, Uruguay hadn’t really made it again at the finals. They last entered the semis in 1970, and garnered fourth place. Tomorrow is their chance to rewrite history. But can they do it without their prolific 23-year old striker, Luis Suarez?

Suarez blocked a clear ball with his hands in a game vs Ghana in the quarters. Game was tied at 1-1 and time was ticking fast. He must have thought he was the goalie. Hero or not, he was given an automatic red card and one game ban. That goal would have put Ghana 2-1 and into the semis. But luck was not on the Africans side as their star player Gyan missed a penalty. A shoot-out ensued after it was still 1-1 at extra time. Uruguay were on target while Ghana missed.

So, Oscar Tabarez’ team will face the Oranges without their main striker. But they still have another talisman in Diego Forlan. The 31-year old veteran scored 3 goals in this competition and he is on the way of adding more. In the absence of Suarez, he will be the man to watch.

The Netherlands

The Dutch squad is one of the football powerhouses in Europe that had not won a World Cup. They were runners-up in 1974 and 1978. In the qualifying rounds en route to the 2010 World Cup, they had an unblemished record of 8 wins and 0 losses. They were the first European side to qualify.

The Oranges are best known for their ‘total’ football, wherein all the other players (except the goalkeeper) can change roles during the game. This was popularized by Johan Cruyff, the leader of the 1974 squad, which almost won the World Cup with this system. Today, however, Coach Bert van Marwijk ditched this system coming into the World Cup and proclaimed two things: The era of Total Football is long gone and Holland will win.

Scoring 9 goals in 5 games is still boring to many fans. Effective yet boring, they say. The criticism is similar to the ones received by Brazil’s Dunga, and Real Madrid Boss Jose Mourinho. They are known for their defensive style of play, and not on individual flair and entertainment-laden matches.

Now with Arjen Robben back and fully fit, the Dutch side will be a feared team once again. Add to him the equally talented Wesley Sneijder, Mark Van Bommel and Robin Van Persie. You have a full squad that can score as many goals as they like.

The Netherlands vs Uruguay Results Prediction

The Uruguay side will try to fill in the gap left by Suarez. But they will surely miss his accurate shots and familiarity with Dutch Football, having played with Ajax. Diego Forlan will do his best to carry the team but it will not be enough.

Arjen Robben will be on target once again as his presence make the odds more on Holland’s favor. I had been a fan of this guy since his Chelsea days. With him around, Holland will play fluid football – passing, passing and shooting. But they will also go back in defense. I predict a 3-1 victory for Netherlands in full time.

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