As gouda as it gets

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/07/2010 (5934 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The World Cup semifinal had been over for nearly an hour, tens of thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans were on their way to the waterfront to celebrate the Netherlands’ 3-2 win over Uruguay, and the small band of Uruguayans who had shown up at Green Point Stadium were headed there, too, to drown their sorrows.

All of a sudden, the victorious Dutch team ran out of the tunnel and back onto the field to party some more. Players danced and sang and thanked the diehard 1,000-or-so fans still in the stands, who were banging drums and chanting "Holland! Holland!"

Some of the players rode on other players’ shoulders. They took photographs and recorded the moment on video cameras. Meanwhile, back in Amsterdam, a crowd of 10,000-plus fans celebrated in Museum Square.

It’s hard to blame the Dutch for being so excited. They are headed to their first World Cup final in 32 years, and will be seeking their first-ever title against the winner of today’s semifinal between three-time World Cup champion Germany and reigning European champion Spain. Reaching the final is quite a feat for the Netherlands, a soccer-mad nation that has been let down time and again by talented teams notorious for self-destructing at big tournaments.

This Dutch team has shown no signs that it will cave when it matters most, winning all eight qualifying matches and all six games at this World Cup thus far. The Dutch are unbeaten in 25 matches. Although they didn’t look spectacular against the Uruguayans, and didn’t come alive until the second half, they managed to go ahead 3-1 before Maxi Pereira made it 3-2 in stoppage time with a nice curling shot.

Captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst started it with a 30-yard firecracker that skimmed Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s outstretched fingertips in the 18th minute. Not to be outdone, Uruguay captain-for-the-night Diego Forlan (in place of injured Diego Lugano) cranked one in off his left foot from just beyond 25 feet to tie it 1-1 in the 41st minute. It was his fourth goal of the tournament.

Uruguay, the last South American team standing, the surprise semifinalist from a nation of just 3.3 million people, was 45 minutes from perhaps making its first final in 60 years.

But the Dutch were too strong. Uruguay was also missing four key players — two to suspensions and two to injuries.

"This is unforgettable," said the Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder. "It was a tough fight and toward the end we complicated matters. Sunday we play in the World Cup final. I have to get used to that. A final is so special. You must savour it because it’s not something that comes around the corner very often."

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said the two second-half Dutch goals made it very difficult to catch up.

"The Dutch can create a goal from any situation," said Tabarez, whose team had conceded only two goals heading into the match. "These were beautiful goals for football but rather unexpected for us."

Tabarez praised his team. "We are among the four semifinalists and the other three are powerhouses of Europe…. Therefore, I can say I am proud, yes, and happy with the performance of the team."

— The Miami Herald

Netherlands 3

Uruguay 2

Uruguay 1 1 — 2

Netherlands 1 2 — 3

First Half

1. Netherlands, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst 1, 18th minute

2. Uruguay, Diego Forlan 4, 41st

Second Half

3. Netherlands, Wesley Sneijder 5, 70th

4. Netherlands, Arjen Robben 2, 73rd

5. Uruguay, Maxi Pereira 1, 90th (injury time)

Shots — Uruguay: 12; Netherlands: 11.

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Shots On Goal — Uruguay: 6; Netherlands: 7.

Attendance — 62,479.

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