Preview: Uruguay – Netherlands

(GSM) – With all the world watching, the Netherlands and Uruguay square off in Cape Town on Tuesday in the first of two World Cup semi-finals to determine who will play for football’s ultimate prize.

The Dutch overcame a half-time deficit to beat 10-man Brazil, 2-1, in their quarter-final thanks in part to a Wesley Sneijder brace and Felipe Melo’s red card late on to quell the Brazil threat.

Uruguay, meanwhile, got a bit of fortune as Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty gave Uruguay a chance to win in a shootout after a 1-1 draw against Ghana in the last eight.

Ghana seemed to have the win in hand with the final kick of extra-time, but Luis Suárez, swat on the line kept the ball out and forced the penalty which would go on to strike the bar.

Though fortunate to advance thanks to Suárez, Uruguay will have to do without him against the Oranje as he serves his one-match ban.

It is expected that Sebastián Abreu, the man who chipped the winning penalty in the shootout, will take his place in the starting XI.

Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez also has a host of other problems to deal with as Nicolás Lodeiro is ruled out with a broken foot and captain Diego Lugano is unlikely to see action after limping off against Ghana.

Lodeiro has been a talismanic playmaker for Uruguay off the bench, and that will limit their options. Meanwhile, the absence of defender Lugano could mean Andrés Scotti – who came in for Lugano against Ghana – will go from the start.

If not Scotti, then Diego Godín might be worked back into the squad if he is deemed healthy enough for a return to action.

Jorge Fucile is banned along with Suárez.

On the side of Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk, they will have to make two changes as right back Gregory van der Wiel and holding midfielder Nigel de Jong are suspended for the semi-final.

Khalid Boulahrouz seems the obvious choice to replace van der Wiel at fullback while Demy de Zeeuw will more than likely get the nod in place of de Jong, who has teamed up admirably with Mark van Bommel in the holding role.

Aside from the two necessary replacements, van Marwijk has a full squad at his disposal even though there are some questions about the fitness of Robin van Persie after he took a knock against Brazil.

André Ooijer, the last gasp sub in defense for Holland on Friday, is expected to be back on the bench with Joris Mathijsen fit again to start at center half.

Uruguay have not been in the World Cup final since Maracanazo – the famous 2-1 win at Brazil in the 1950 decider that stunned the crowd over 200,000 in Rio de Janeiro.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, will be seeking their first final berth since 1978, the second of consecutive years in which the Oranje finished runners-up.