Lesotho Soccer World Cup Preview: Uruguay - Netherlands

World Cup Preview: Uruguay - Netherlands
By Robin Bairner

Miracles Do Happen

Image source: goal.com

Both Uruguay and the Netherlands are small nations steeped in World Cup history but only one has the ability to progress to another final when the sides meet on Tuesday evening in Cape Town.

It’s been 60 years since the Celeste were on top of the world, yet Oscar Tabarez’s side stand only 180 minutes from arguably their greatest ever success. The story could have been very different after a dramatic quarter-final meeting with Ghana that saw the South Americans come through in remarkable circumstances.

Having fallen behind in first half stoppage time, Uruguay battled back after the break thanks to a goal from Diego Forlan. When Luis Suarez was dismissed in the very last minute of stoppage time for handling a goalbound header on the line it seemed he had earned his side only a temporary reprieve but Asamoah Gyan sent his penalty against the bar. From a seemingly impossible position, the Celeste then won on penalty kicks.

“The ‘Hand of God’ now belongs to me,” Suarez cheekily proclaimed to the press after the game. “There was no alternative for me. This was the end of the World Cup and when I saw Gyan miss the penalty it was a great joy. I thought ‘it is a miracle’.”

Uruguay’s football history is marked with controversy due to the stereotypically unscrupulous nature of their defending, but this was not la Garra Charrua – the fighting spirit of the Uruguayans – as seen before. Nevertheless, the Celeste will no longer have the support of neutral South Africans after such a notorious incident, which Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac labelled “an injustice against football”.

Organised at the back, dangerous up front and prepared to do anything to earn progression through to the final, Uruguay should not be discounted.

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Netherlands stuns Brazil 2-1 to reach semifinals

Lesotho Soccer World Cup News:  Netherlands stuns Brazil 2-1 to reach semifinals
Associated Press

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Brazil had never really been under duress in the World Cup until the quarterfinals Friday. How would it react, with resilience or agitation? Could it take a punch, or did it have a glass jaw?

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Few could have imagined that a dominant first half would disintegrate into such a loss of composure in a 2-1 loss to the Netherlands. For a second consecutive World Cup, Brazil exited in the quarterfinals, its hopes of a sixth title shattered along with its equanimity and self-control.
As it crumbled, Brazil put a ball into its own net, grew unnerved by the diving of Dutch forward Arjen Robben, and played a man down for the final 17-plus minutes after committing an impetuous foul. One of the tallest teams in the tournament, Brazil gave up the winning goal on a header by Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, one of the shortest men on the field.

As Brazil leaves unceremoniously, the Netherlands advances to the semifinals against Uruguay, which beat Ghana on penalty kicks. The Netherlands defeated Brazil for the first time in the World Cup since 1974 and the days of Johan Cruyff and gained redemption for defeats in 1994 and 1998, while also beginning to shed its image as a talented but underperforming team.

"Finally, finally, we won," Sneijder said.

While Dunga, Brazil's coach, faces caustic second-guessing for a style that favored muscle over beauty, Bert van Marwijk of the Netherlands gained validation for his assertion that the Dutch could win the World Cup for the first time.

"People mocked me for that," said van Marwijk, who became coach two years ago.

But if others doubted him, he did not doubt himself. "I said I'm not going to the tournament just to take part; I want to win," van Marwijk said. "I want the best prize. People might think (I am) arrogant. But if you beat Brazil, then you should dare to say this."

Felipe Melo, a Brazilian midfielder, will forever remain in the bull's-eye for everything that went right and wrong in this match for the departed co-favorites.

He re-entered the starting lineup for Ramires, who was suspended with two yellow cards. And in the 10th minute, Melo sent a pass through a yawning gap in the middle of the Netherlands' defense. The ball seemed to roll forever as if on a fairway after a tee shot.

The Netherlands had been forced to alter its starting lineup in central defense, when Joris Mathijsen injured his knee during warm-ups. Andre Ooijer replaced him, which led to early confusion that was harshly punished by Brazil. Robinho ran past Ooijer, and his partner John Heitinga, cocked his right leg at the top of the penalty area and swept the ball into the goal for a 1-0 Brazil lead.

His leg seemed to swing like a door closing on the Netherlands. Continue reading here...