Netherlands' coach Bert Van Marwijk smiles during a press conference at Green Point stadium in Cape Town on July 5, 2010, on the eve of their FIFA 2010 World Cup semi-final football match against Uruguay.JAVIER SORIANO/AFP / Getty Images
In many ways the first 2010 World Cup semi-final is turning out to be a David against Goliath contest.
With Uruguay missing four regular starting players including their captain Diego Lugano (Fernabache) and star forward Luis Suarez (Ajax) one could be forgiven for believing the end result will be a formality in favour of Netherlands. Man for man the Dutch, on paper, would have to be considered the more talented team even without the missing Uruguay players. But now the scales are even more unbalanced in favour of the brilliant Oranje.
Rather than giving reasons as to why Uruguay really have no chance of winning this game, lets speculate for a few minutes on what the approach of the South Americans will be, to at least give themselves a chance.
Oscar Tabarez has already started the cleverness by suggesting - in so many words - that they are happy at making the semi-final in the first place and their expectations now are limited. Nice one and good move.
After recognizing they were a whisker away from being eliminated from the World Cup - before Luis Suarez's decision to use his own hand of God - the whole of Uruguay including their players will have a 'we have a nothing to lose attitude going into the game.' There is simply no pressure on the Uruguayans to accept their own intrinsic motivation to keep the dream alive, whereas for the Dutch the expectations now will be immense.
Tabarez knowing that Netherlands are now clearly the better team in terms of talent will need to deal tactically with their strengths which will begin with their attacking players and formation. With Robin van Persie (Arsenal) up top as the lone striker; Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan) in behind; and the wide support of Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) , Netherland's main attacking players would cause a problem for any team.
Uruguay who have proved to be excellent defenders as individuals and as a collective unit will likely take a similar approach to their first game versus France where they dropped off deep and allowed very little space in behind. Defending on the top of the penalty area will have to be immaculate though.
In regards to the alignment of players the only reasonable approach will be to play four defenders at the back with three of the four taking care of van Persie, Kuyt, and Robben while the other defender remains spare (likely a centre back). Then, if Tabarez is smart, he will play 5 in the midfield in order to shadow Sneijder and deal with their holding two central midfielders. With Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid) up top as a lone striker it will be the right alignment of the team in order to frustrate the Dutch.
Of course having the right formation and the right players in the right slots is one thing, getting them to execute their roles is entirely another. Having said that Uruguay have proved to be a well prepared team who are well balanced in their play with the ability to score goals, even if at times it is by pulling the odd rabbit out of a hat.
They will need to do this against Holland, either through another Forlan-esque free kick or a well worked set-play. But don't expect Uruguay to roll over. If they take the smart tactical approach - which Tabarez appears good at doing - then Uruguay will at the very least make life difficult for the Dutch. With a little bit of good fortune who knows, there could be yet another upset.
Nevertheless many neutrals will feel they have already used up all their good fortune after the Surez handball incident. But hey you never know.