Competetion: FIFA World Cup Semi Final Live
Venue: Cape Town
Date: Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Kick-off: 1930 BST
Click and Enjoy WC Semi Final Live
Uruguay vs Netherlands Live Internet TV Free!
Coverage: Live on ITV1 and BBC Radio 5 live Highlights on BBC2 (2320) and BBC red button. Plus listen live, follow live text commentary and watch match highlights at full-time (UK only) on this website
MATCH PREVIEW
The winners of the first-ever World Cup take on the nation many believe to be the best never to have won football's biggest prize, in an intriguing semi-final clash in Cape Town.
So often dismissed as football's biggest chokers, the Netherlands' dream of a first world title is within their grasp. This may not be the most spectacular Dutch side in recent memory, but it is the most effective. Friday's quarter-final victory over Brazil saw Bert van Marwijk's side extend their record unbeaten run to 24 matches. They have won all five of their games in South Africa, beating their previous best run of four consecutive wins at the 1974 finals.
That was the year the Dutch introduced Total Football to the world stage, opening the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in West Germany. The Netherlands cruised to the final, only to stumble at the final hurdle against the hosts. Four years later it was a similar story as Argentina denied them again. The Dutch were the first European settlers in South Africa - will they be the first team to book their place in the 2010 World Cup final?
The glory years of Uruguayan football were a fast-fading memory before Oscar Tabarez's side arrived in South Africa. Winners in 1930 and 1950, La Celeste's last semi-final was 40 years ago and they have only appeared in two of the last five World Cups. But under Tabarez, who also steered them to the last 16 in 1990 in his first stint as coach, Uruguay have been rejuvenated.
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