The World Cup's history men face the competition's nearly men when inaugural host and twice winner Uruguay takes on double runner-up Netherlands in Cape Town Tuesday fighting it out for a place in the final. Not just Uruguayan soccer but the country's whole national identity draws heavily on its victories of 1930 and 1950. Semifinals in 1954 and 1970 showed that those early successes were not a flash in the pan but it has been meager pickings since then before this year's surpise march. “I don't know what would happen if we were to achieve what that team achieved back in 1950,” said coach Oscar Tabarez. “We still hold those champions as idols.” Every Dutch player also operates under long shadows: in their case those cast by the likes of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Johnny Rep and the “Total Football” of the 1970s. In 1974 and 1978 the Dutch were cast as chief bridesmaid – they might have been prettier than the bride on both occasions but at the end of the ceremony it was still West Germany and Argentina who signed the register. The 1988 European championship-winning side of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard could not transfer their success to the world stage while a shoot-out defeat to Brazil in the 1998 semifinals was another frustrating near miss. All that will count for nothing in Cape Town however, as both sides will be looking very much to the future, to July 11 and a Johannesburg appointment with Germany or Spain. Everything points to the Netherlands advancing to set up a second-successive all-European final, leaving egg on the face of those writing off the continent only a week ago. The Dutch are on a phenomenal run. Having won all their qualifying matches to get to South Africa they won all three group games here and two knockout matches. The last of them, 2-1 against Brazil after weathering an early onslaught, has left them buzzing and fearing nobody. With four-goal midfielder Wesley Sneijder pulling the strings, they look a well-balanced side, with goals conveniently coming from a wide variety of sources as rusty striker Van Persie plays his way back to full fitness. Arjen Robben, whether by scoring, creating, or drawing fouls, is their key weapon and the winger can expect some very close attention from Uruguay's uncompromising defenders. Unsurprisingly, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk is treating the last surviving South American team with respect. “This is a very dangerous game, they are fighters and we have to be very focused,” he said. The Dutch are without right back Gregory van der Wiel and midfielder Nigel de Jong, who are both suspended. Khalid Boulahrouz and Demy de Zeeuw are the likely replacements though Ibrahim Afellay or Rafael van der Vaart could be in the mix. Joris Mathijsen, a late withdrawal from the quarterfinal, is fit to play, as is Van Persie, who had a slight knock. Uruguay needs to be at its absolute best to have any chance but suspensions and injury have hit it hard. Striker Luis Suarez, who spent the last three years terrorizing Dutch defenses for Ajax Amsterdam, is banned for his match-saving goalline handball against Ghana, as is defender Jorge Fucile, who earned a second yellow card against Ghana. Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is out of the tournament after fracturing a bone in his foot while captain Diego Lugano faces a race against time to overcome a knee ligament problem. On the bright side, defender Diego Godin, who missed the Ghana match with a thigh injury, should be available. In Suarez's absence, the slim shoulders of Diego Forlan, who hit the equalizer against Ghana for his third goal of the tournament, will carry his nation's weighty expectations. Van Marwijk has warned his players to keep their feet on the ground. “We didn't reach the semifinal for nothing, so we have to really focus again and not think that we're already there.” Known as El Maestro in his homeland, Tabarez is reliable, hard working and a man of few words. He, for one, is not ready to throw in the towel. “We are amongst the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa,” he said. “If there is a glimmer of hope we must hang on. We will certainly not throw in the towel before playing that match. “Holland will be very difficult – but not impossible.” The Dutch confidence is high and Van Marwijk is quietly confident of lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.
