Uruguay 2-3 Holland: The Daily Mirror match report
Published 21:22 06/07/10 By Martin Lipton
Not brilliant, although definitely Orange. Not Total Football or anything like it, either.
But while Johan Cruyff is still carping at the style and approach of this team, Bert Van Marwijk's men stand just 90 minutes away from doing what the truly golden generation could not achieve.
Arjan Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie are not the natural inheritors of the mantle left behind by Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Johnny Rep, while Mark Van Bommel is more of a hired assassin than a languid passer in the mould of Wim Van Hanegen.
Yet it was this modern day version of Dutch courage that turned the Green Point Stadium into Orange Party Central, Van Marwijk's side who will be remembered as the Cape Crusaders.
And if they can go the extra step beyond where the teams of legendary coaches Rinus Michels and Ernst Happel fell short in 1974 and again four years later in Buenos Aires, then Van Marwijk and his players will also be immortalised.
Last night, for all the intelligence, industry and desire of Diego Forlan, Holland also had the extra individual quality.
Robben's pace constantly exposed the limitations of stand-in left-back Martin Caceres, Sneijder probed, Van Persie led the line.
And with Forlan playing higher than he wanted, Uruguay eventually, four days late, paid the price of the sins of the "Hand of God", Luis Suarez.
Only briefly, after former Manchester United man Forlan caught out Maarten Stekelenburg with a 30-yarder the Dutch goalkeeper will be happier not to see replayed, did Holland really look as if they might conspire to blow their big chance.
But a side that can send Brazil tumbling out of the World Cup should always have too much for a nation of barely three million people and in the end that was the case.
Not that Holland can play like this, against either Spain or Germany, if they really want to be masters of the footballing universe on Sunday.
Their defence still looks an accident waiting to happen, Van Bommel cannot continue to get away with life as a kicking machine and they will have to be more clinical from fewer attacking opportunities.
Yet none of that mattered as Van Marwijk's men celebrated in front of their Army of supporters, who turned Cape Town into Amsterdam-by-the Sea.
A classic semi-final it was not, the bad blood between the teams stoked as Van Bommel left his foot in on Walter Gargano in the build-up to Gio Van Bronckhorst's stunning 18th minute opener.
The ball was transferred from right to left, Demy De Zeeuw finding the former Arsenal man in buckets of space 35 yards out but nobody could have expected the left-footed thunderbolt that flicked Fernando Muslera's fingertips on its way into the postage stamp corner.
That goal might have knocked the stuffing out of Uruguay and tempers flared after Caceres accidentally caught De Zeeuw flush on the chin with an overhead kick.
Just before the break, the South Americans, who had not reached this stage since 1970, were level, as Forlan drifted into the hole, turned onto his left foot and found Stekelenburg napping on the job.
Hope for Uruguay and although Van Marwijk made a truly positive change at the break, sending Rafael Van Der Vaart on for De Zeeuw, Forlan's scheming could have upset the odds, Stekelenburg decidedly uncomfortable as he saved the Atletico Madrid striker's dipping free-kick.
When Robben, who had the freedom of the right flank, slammed over the bar when Muslera could only parry a Van Der Vaart shot, extra-time seemed to be looming.
But with 20 minutes left Sneijder made room for a deflected effort that sneaked into the corner, with Muslera distracted by Van Persie's presence six yards out, marginally onside. This one definitely belongs to the Inter Milan schemer.
And three minutes later, Robben of all people rose 10 yards out to thump home a header off the opposite post from Dirk Kuyt's teasing centre.
With Uruguay exposed, Robben and Sneijder had chances to bury the game, the misses ensuring an anxious final spell after Maxi Pereira curled in a left-footer.
But eventually, Dutch nerves now shredded, the relief came and the celebrations could begin.
Cruyff's complaints and valid and this Holland is based on effort rather than instinctive brilliance. Yet, perhaps, it could bring what all that genius could not. We will see in Soccer City.
