Had it not been for Louis Suarez’s “hand of God” or “hand of Suarez” (whatever you prefer to call it) there would be no South American team in the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup. But Uruguay, the least likely of all South American representatives made it to the final four, can they get further than this stage? We can only wait for the referee’s last final whistle on their semifinal game against Netherlands. At this stage, and with the teams remaining in the competition, it’s hard to make predictions. Uruguay were the last nation to qualify, needing a playoff against Costa Rica to get to South Africa, but they could as well be last to leave. Who knows, after all this is football where anything and everything is possible. In the build-up to today’s clash, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said “Uruguay is a strong side and we will have to be very concentrated.” “They are fighters, survivors.” Indeed they’re. Tough the Uruguayans have been and they needed the “hand of Suarez” to stay in the tournament. Without Suarez or rather his unruly ugly hands, Uruguay, the last South American team standing after Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay went out in the quarter-finals have a long shot to win its third title and first since 1950. But Netherlands have won five times in a row at this World Cup and the victory over Brazil will give them such confidence and they will fancy their chances of playing the final, their first since 1978. Ends
