The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ has reached the semi-final stage, with sole South American survivors Uruguay standing alone against the cream of Europe’s representatives. La Celeste are in action on Tuesday evening against an increasingly confident Netherlands side, while Germany take on Spain on Wednesday in a repeat of the EURO 2008 final.
No member of that illustrious quartet has looked more impressive than the Germans, who put four past England in the Round of 16 and then dished out similar treatment to Argentina in the quarter-finals. Their upcoming opponents did not look quite as impressive in disposing of Portugal and Paraguay in the same rounds, the European champions edging through on both occasions thanks to opportunistic strikes by David Villa.
Uruguay have had to battle hard to take their place in the last four, downing Korea Republic 2-1 in the last 16 before ending African hopes with a nerve-wracking shootout win over Ghana. Oscar Tabarez’s side will need to summon up their famed resolve against the Dutch, who are on a high after seeing off Brazil 2-1.
The matches
Uruguay-Netherlands, 6 July, Cape Town, 20.30
Germany-Spain, 7 July, Durban, 20.30
