Maybe not quite the match we expected.
But here we are.
A couple of wishes for today:
The Netherlands are as entitled as anyone else to play whatever style of football suits them. Stop bleating about the death of Total Football. A style, incidentally, that won Holland a grand total of no World Cups. (Raphael Honigstein destructs this myth here.)
And, please, can pundits stop being surprised about the quality of Diego Forlan. He has dropped a couple of fairly big hints since leaving Old Trafford that he would be able to perfom on this stage. Get over it.
That aside the first semi final is a clash between the only two undefeated sides left in the tournament.
The Dutch looked rocked by Brazil in the first half of their quarter final but recovered their composure to punish their opponents as the South Americans imploded after the break.
If they could revel in the status of underdogs against the giants of South America, Holland know that this evening they have the responsibility of favourites.
That will suit a Uruguay side enjoying being the surprise package sixty years on from their second World Cup triumph.
It would be nice if we could enjoy a game that isn't dominated by a handball furore, red cards, accusations of diving or defensive mistakes.
But that might not be in keeping with the themes of the 2010 World Cup.
I think the Dutch will do enough tonight. Scotland might yet have been vanquished by the eventual World Cup winners.
> I wouldn't have predicted a Netherlands v Germany final. But it's an attractive prospect now. Not that we should get ahead of ourselves.
> Quick guide to the semi finals here.
Netherlands vs. Germany, Thats what I want to see!
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