Workman-like Holland see off Uruguay to claim a place in the final

The game started slowly with neither side attacking convincingly or creating any real openings. However after only 18 minutes, Holland took the lead through a fantastic strike from Van Bronckhorst from 35 yards out. Perhaps the keeper, slow to move, was slightly to blame but it was a stunning effort, well-placed into the top corner, showing that the 35-year-old defender hasn’t lost his touch.

Taking the lead didn’t spur Holland into action and the game continued in the same manner, with both teams putting most of their players behind the ball and not committing men forwards. Uruguay did not look like scoring at all and they created very little. Rather surprisingly an equaliser came just five minutes before the break when Forlan, who had been quiet thus far, curved in a long-rang effort to claim his fourth goal of the competition. Dutch keeper Stekelenburg should have done better as he got his hand to the ball but failed to keep it out, giving Uruguay a soft equaliser just before half time.

Play continued to be a scrappy midfield battle in the second half. Forlan came close to giving Uruguay the lead when his free-kick dipped over the wall but it was neatly pushed away by Stekelenburg. Holland also had chances to take the lead but Robben's and Van Persie's shots were off-target, so the scoreline remained 1-1.

Things changed however from the 70th minute. The Dutch scored two goals in just three minutes to give themselves a 3-1 lead and all but securing their passage to the final. Sneijder scored the first of the two with a deflected shot off a defender and the post. Strong protestations from the Uruguay defenders for offside against Van Persie proved fruitless but replays show that he was perhaps marginally onside. Sneijder's goal count for the competition is now 5, putting him joint top with Spain's Villa. Holland increased their lead minutes later through Robben, who skipped easily between defenders to head home Kuyt's cross.

Wild celebrations from the squad and fans followed as they believed their team had booked a place in the final, but Uruguay had other ideas. They pressed hard in the final 20 minutes and were rewarded in injury time with a goal. Maxi Pereira finished neatly into the bottom corner of the net, making the score 3-2 and giving Uruguay a faint hope of qualifying as they still had two minutes of stoppage time left.

However, despite pressure on the Dutch defence and a few good searching crosses, Uruguay failed to score again and the final whistle confirmed Holland's victory and their place in the final on 11th July. With a less than convincing display, they will have to improve if they hope to win the World Cup for the first time in their history. For Uruguay, it isn't quite the end of their campaign as they will play in the third-place play off on Saturday 10th July.

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