The Netherlands make their first appearance in a World Cup final for over 30 years after beating Uruguay in the semi-finals. The scoring was opened by a wonder shot from Giovanni Van Bronckhurst, it apparently traveled 42 yards at 61mph (not convinced) from the left of midfield and hit the far top corner. It was a perfect strike. I'm not sure what gave him the idea to shoot from there but there hasn't been a better struck shot in this World Cup. It was an absolute blinder of a goal. It opened the scoring on 18 minutes, in what had been a fairly evenly contested affair. Uruguay were without Suarez after his red card in the quarters, and Forlan did cut a slightly forlorn (sorry) figure upfront alone. The Dutch had a few defensive changes but the front 4 players all stayed the same, Dirk Kuyt must be amazing in training...
Uruguay seemed slightly rocked after that and the game seemed to be slipping away from them. There is a small incident after De Zeeuw takes a boot square in the face as Caceres tries an overhead kick. It's all handbags and the referee does well to give himself some thinking time before giving out just two yellow cards. It takes a while for Uruguay to get themselves back in the game but for the last 12 minutes or so of the half they really start to trouble the Dutch. Stekelenburg isn't quite the assured keeper the Dutch are used to with only 9 appearances in all competitions this season, and the request for Van Der Saar to return to International duty isn't surprising. Despite only conceding 3 times before this game, he isn't a keeper that convinces. It was highlighted on 42 minutes when Forlan received the ball deep in a little space and with a lovely little twist of the hips brought the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a 35 yard drive. It dipped and swerved, Stekelenburg manages to get a hand to it but can't stop it going in. Whilst it was a great strike, and Forlan seems to be one of the players who has no problem with the Jabulani ball, the keeper should have done better. As an aside, Forlan is the first player since Lothar Mattheus to score 3 goals from outside the box in a WC finals.
Uruguay ran the first part of the second half and certainly looked the more likely to score, Forlan looked dangerous ad couldn't quite make a couple of through balls count. The Uruguayan attack did lack a certain cutting edge and pace without Suarez, but they certainly didn't want for trying. holland on the other hand were struggling to put passes together, and Van der Vaart's introduction looks to be a mistake, his first touch is terrible, his passes miss their targets both near and far, things look a little uncertain for the Dutch. It takes almost 20 minutes for the Dutch to find their feet, but - and maybe tellingly - Uruguay haven't created any real threat in this period. They've had possession but not created anywhere near enough chances. This costs them, when, in the 68 minute Sneijder scores again. This is his 5th goal from 7 shots on target, what a guy. There is a deflection and Van Persie sticks a foot out but doesn't make contact. Uruguay claim Van Persie was offside and, crucially, interfering with play. The replays show it's marginal and the linesman has - as seems to be the norm in this competition - given the benefit of the doubt to the attacking side.
If that wasn't bad enough, Holland find the net again 3 minutes later, Kuyt finds some space on the left and puts in a perfect cross for Robben to head home, in the space of 5 minutes Uruguay have gone from looking like potential winners to going home. It seems to be all over. Uruguay push but nothing seems to be coming, holland look to attack on the break but a few poor touches let them down. Forlan is replaced after 84 minutes, you have to think it's an injury, as there is no one else looking likely to create. Then in the 92 minute, Uruguay pull a goal back, a lovely strike from Pereira which sets up a grand stand finish. Unfortunately for Uruguay it seems their luck was all used up in the quarter final as a few half chances don't fall their way in the Dutch box and eventually the ref calls time.
The Netherlands are heading to their 3rd ever final, and will face either Spain or Germany. Though they played better tonight, and they do seem to be growing into this tournament, you do feel the Dutch have a few issues at the back, there are times they look nervous, and times they look too languid. Van Persie's involvement isn't nearly enough, I don't know if this is lack of service or game time.
Robben is a truly gifted footballer, and now he doesn't seem to be made of balsa wood he really does make an impact, but why does he have to scream everytime he goes down? It's exceptionally off-putting and just irritating, at times he sounds like a woman, it's too much. Ronaldo (not the real one) likes to spend time on the floor, but even he doesn't feel the need to yelp in agony. The other thing about Robben, whilst he is hard to play for a full back, his sheer one footed nature does make him easy to read, it doesn't make it easy to play him, but you know what he's going to do. Just a few times he should get to the byline and put the ball into the box, it gives the full back a couple of questions and creates uncertainty, surely he can put in a couple of crosses with his right foot? Boulahrouz came in at left bakc and played a superb game, one of hollands players of the match. Sneijder, despite his goal wasn't quite on form, and didn't come close to his quarter final level, but he's still a match for anyone, but against either Germany or Spain he's going to have to play above tonights performance. You do feel on his day he can unlock any team, as he showed time and again at Inter Milan, that is looking like £12 million well spent last summer...
I'm sorry to see Uruguay go home, apart from their first game against France, which was awful on both parts, I've really enjoyed watching them play. They have a great balance of play, tough to break down especially with Perez patrolling the midfield, but have a lovely approach play when attacking. The fact they are a country of 3.5 million people shows in the lack of depth available. Without Suarez, there was no one to replace him and it was Forlan that moved into a lone striker role. now he is for me one of the players of the tournament, I know I've said it more than once, but he's a wonderful footballer, shoot with both feet, good in the air, and an incredible footballing brain. It was a pleasure to watch him this World Cup, he doesn't make a fuss, he just plays football. his time at United will always haunt him in the UK but in Spain he has been superb for both Villareal and Athleti.
I'm sorry to see him and la celeste go home, but well fought and congratulations on being the last south American team in the competition. For quite a while it looked like South America were going to dominate this competition, Europe lost two traditional power houses in the group stages, and then a few more in the last 16. South America on the other hand were represented in all four quarter finals. But it wsa only Uruguay who progressed, and even then with a cheeky hand from Suarez. It's looking like the Europeans are once again finding domination in Africa. It's going to be an all Europe final, and maybe the Dutch can become the 8th nation to lift the trophy and where better for them to lift it? A new team for a new continent?
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