Some random observations after the Semifinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup:

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands: The best defense in the tournament so far in Uruguay were not sending numbers forward early on, trying to keep tactical discipline, especially in the back, practically leaving Diego Forlan and Cavani up front by themselves. The Dutch let it be known that they were mentally and physically tough. Lots of possession on the flanks from both sides. Holland were more likely to put offensive pressure on the final third, doing a much better job of opening up space with their play on the flanks, thereby getting the ball into the Uruguayan penalty area. Sustained possession (by almost 2-1 in the first 25 minutes), switching play and patient ball movement left Uruguay asleep in the 18th minute as a long strike from 35 yards out on the left by fullback Giovanni van Bronckhorst surprised Uruguayan keeper Muslera and found the extreme upper right corner of the net to give the Dutch an early lead (when you give up that much possession bad things usually happen). Surprisingly physical game (kicking a player in the face, elbowing a player in the box) from both sides. The Netherlands is a surprisingly fast team, so the slow Uruguayan attacking buildup was not going to surprise the Dutch. Great individual ball skills from Forlan opened up space in the center in the final third for him to take a 25 yard shot that keeper Martin Stekelenburg got his hand onto but couldn’t deflect enough to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net. A little more offensive creativity by the Netherlands in the second half when Rafael van der Vaart came on. In the second half, even though Uruguay was playing with a little more confidence with a few well-timed counterattacks, Holland on several occasions had them pinned down in their own half because Uruguay was again conceding much of the possession. On the few occasions the Dutch broke down the Uruguayan backline they just simply missed massive scoring opportunities. In the 70th minute, however, Wesley Sneijder made a quality shot that ricocheted off of two Uruguayan defenders and made it just past both teammate Robin van Persie (who did not touch the ball in an offside position) and Muslera for a Dutch lead. Three minutes later the Dutch iced the game when, in a desperate attempt to get a goal back, Uruguay pushed forward, opening up space in the back for Dirk Kuyt to find Arjen Robben in the center of the penalty area for a scoring header (I have to say here that van Bronckhorst and Kuyt played a brilliant linkup game on the left flank all tournament long; today was no different). Maxi Pereira made it temporarily interesting in extra time with an indirect free kick strike that found the Dutch asleep, but in the end Uruguay simply ran out of time. MADD PROPS to Uruguay for finding a world-class form they hadn’t had in 60 years and playing a wonderful tournament. In an era when the Oranje don’t have the quality of legends like Kruyf, Neeskens, Rykaard, Gullit, van Basten, Bergkamp or van der Saar, the Netherlands will be playing in their first World Cup final in 32 years, with the chance to accomplish what none of those legends ever could.

–daveydoug