06 July 2010 – Day 26

The Netherlands and Uruguay take centre stage later today as the first Semi Final kicks-off place in Cape Town. There will be many people hoping that Uruguay come unstuck after the “Saurez slap” kept out Ghana in the Quarter Final. If the karma that followed the French into this tournament befalls Uruguay, they’ll be back on the plane to Montevideo come Tuesday evening.

The Dutch team that reached both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup Finals is best remembered for “Total” football, which was pleasing on the eye, but didn’t win them the trophy on either occasion. Whilst the 2010 team doesn’t play with the flair of the 70’s era, they have a determination and organization that has served them well in the tournament and does have class in players such as Kuyt, Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben, Huntelaar and Van der Vaart. It would also set up the possibility of the Dutch meeting Germany in the Final. Whilst we English reach boiling point at the thought of any game against the Germans, they on the other hand see the game against the Netherlands as providing their greatest rivalry. Perhaps that is why the world was treated to the spitting-fest between Frank Rijkaard and Rudi Voller at Italia ’90. Now doesn’t that whet the appetite for a spectacular Final…