Tilting at windmills

Dutch coach under gun despite unbeaten record, semifinal berth

By: Mike Corder Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 6, 2010

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is not planning on changing his tactics for the World Cup semifinal against Uruguay despite criticism about the lack of Dutch flair that has dogged his team throughout the tournament.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/07/2010 (5935 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is not planning on changing his tactics for the World Cup semifinal against Uruguay despite criticism about the lack of Dutch flair that has dogged his team throughout the tournament.

"We are continuing down the road we have chosen," Van Marwijk said Monday. "I will not let anyone distract me from that."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, meanwhile, is drawing inspiration to beat the favoured Dutch from the 1950 "Miracle of Maracana," when his tiny country beat Brazil at Maracana stadium to earn its second World Cup title.

FERNANDO VERGARA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uruguayan goalkeepers Fernando Muslera (front) and Juan Castillo practice stopping penalty kicks in preparation for today’s World Cup semifinal. — FERNANDO VERGARA / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Uruguayan goalkeepers Fernando Muslera (front) and Juan Castillo practice stopping penalty kicks in preparation for today’s World Cup semifinal.

"The history of the World Cup is full of results that nobody could have expected, and they continue to happen," Tabarez said. "Why shouldn’t we be able to win Tuesday?"

But, he said: "I know we have to play a perfect game and we’re going to approach it with all of our effort."

Uruguay, ranked No. 16 in the world, is a two-time World Cup winner, while the fourth-ranked Netherlands, on a 24-game unbeaten streak, is still trying to shake off the tag of two-time loser after talent-packed Dutch teams lost to hosts Germany and Argentina in 1974 and 1978.

"We have to beat Uruguay," Wesley Sneijder told the official Dutch supporters website. "We’re just thinking of one thing: we want to win the World Cup. This is our time."

Uruguay only reached Tuesday’s semifinal at Green Point Stadium thanks to Luis Suarez’s handball on the line to deny Ghana in the dying seconds of extra time, and Tabarez knows his team will have to do better against the Dutch.

However, Tabarez hit back at criticism of Suarez’s actions.

"We are very proud of our behaviour," Tabarez said. "Please don’t tell me or suggest that we cheated. I don’t accept that in any way."

Van Marwijk and Tabarez are both having to fill holes in their starting lineups caused by injuries and suspensions.

Chief among them will be the suspended Suarez, who knows all about scoring against Dutch defences — with 43 goals in 39 games for Ajax last season in the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup.

Fullback Jorge Fucile also is suspended after picking up a second yellow card against Ghana, while central defender Diego Godin missed that game with a left thigh problem and remains in doubt. Captain Diego Lugano also is fighting to be fit after injuring a right knee ligament against Ghana.

"The risk of pain is the last thing on my mind," Lugano said. "Everybody wants to play in these games, but the question is whether I’m physically 100 per cent to be able to play a game at this level."

Tabarez refused Monday to say if Lugano and Godin would play.

"Our lineup is our great secret," he said. "Neither my players nor the Dutch players are going to know until Tuesday."

Uruguay won the World Cup in 1930 and 1950, but last reached a semifinal in 1970 when the team finished in fourth place.

"It’s a very difficult match against the Netherlands," Tabarez said. "They haven’t lost a game so far, they’ve got great players and a lot of diversity in their play.