Netherlands Ready for Uruguay
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is already in the semi-finals stage and the remaining teams are starting to feel the pressure. In the first semi-finals match, the Netherlands National Football Team will be going up against Uruguay and it is expected to be a tough match to call. However, the Netherlands head coach Bert van Marwijk believes that his team has the edge and they are ready to absorb all the blows that Uruguay will surely give.
The Netherlands pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset in the quarter-finals against Brazil, which are one of the heavy favorites to win this year’s title. The Dutch were down at the half after Brazil’s Robinho scored a goal early in the game, but Wesley Sneijder provided a big lift in the second half by scoring two explosive goals. The win gave the Netherlands a slot in the semi-finals and a chance to have a return trip to the World Cup Finals.
Dutch Coach Van Marwijk expressed confidence about their chances against Uruguay, but he also stressed to his team that they should remain focused.
"Uruguay is a team of fighters. They battle and survive. That is why they have reached the semi-finals. We must certainly not underestimate them; otherwise things will go wrong for us. We have to take the duel with Uruguay very seriously because, mentally, it is difficult to get yourselves back into the mix after a victory against Brazil." Van Marwijk said.
The Dutch Squad is the clear favorite because they are more talented. An interesting fact also points to them being in the finals because in the past three editions of the World Cup, the team that defeated the perennial contender Brazil went all the way to the penultimate stage of the tournament.
"It has now been two years that I have been trying to get the players to understand that in order to be world champions; they must shine regularly without ever letting up. We haven't succeeded in our mission yet. The target, to be crowned champions, is not yet achieved." Van Marwijk added.
The Dutch Squad will also have a big boost after one of their best strikers, Robin Van Persie, was given the clearance to play by their team doctors. The 26 year-old forward of Arsenal injured his left elbow in their quarter-final encounter with Brazil.
On the other hand, Uruguay will be having a tough time because they will be playing without their striker Luis Suarez. The 23 year-old forward, who is known for his powerful shot attempts and jumping ability, was suspended after receiving a red card because of a goal-line handball in the quarter-finals against Ghana. One of their best defenders, Jorge Ciro Fucile, is also out because of suspension, and midfield specialist Nicolas Lodeiro and Skipper Diego Lugano are doubtful because of injuries.
Despite the odds being against team, Uruguay National Team head coach Oscar Tabarez still believes that his team is capable of pulling off a surprise win against the Netherlands.
"We have enough footballers in our pack to send out a side which deserve my confidence. I think we have shown sufficient evidence of our capabilities. Of the 23 in the squad 20 have already had some playing time," Tabarez said.
The Netherlands – Uruguay match, which is tagged as one of the most surprising semi-finals pairing in World Cup history, will be highly unpredictable. But with the advantage in manpower and experience, Coach Van Marwijk and the Dutch squad are poised to win the match and make their way to the finals for the first time since the 1978 edition of the World Cup, where they finished second behind Argentina.
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