The Oranje finally take the initiative

Netherlands’ Arjen Robben, left, and Netherlands’ Dirk Kuyt, right, celebrate following the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Uruguay and the Netherlands at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Netherlands defeated Uruguay 3-2. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

It might have taken three-quarters of the game here to finally wrestle the initiative, but Bert van Marwijk was ultimately able to win the tactical battle against Oscar Tabarez, while his men in Oranje were able to show just enough mental strength to get the job done.

It was far from convincing, in keeping with much of their work throughout the tournament, but the Netherlands are still alive, now have six straight wins and are into their third World Cup final, their first in 32 years.

After losing the first two, will it be third time lucky?

It mightn’t be total football, but for the Dutch it’s totally exhilarating.

It has proved very difficult to shake off this resolute and spirited Uruguay side throughout the tournament, and it was the case again here. South Korea and Ghana fell just short, but ultimately the increase in class of the opposition and their own preference to wait, rather than act, knocked them out.

With a bit more initiative, they might have had really had a crack at this Dutch side, who looked hesitant throughout.

The tactical and mental battle was fascinating both before and during the game, with both sides starting conservatively. It was only at the break that van Marwijk reacted, took the initiative, and for that Holland have their much desired spot in the final.

Before the game, van Marwijk had to make two changes due to suspension, but decided to make a third, bringing back Joris Mathijsen for Andre Ooijer in the centre of defence.

Elsewhere, Khalid Boulahrouz was in for Gregory van der Wiel at right back, and Demy de Zeeuw won the battle to replace Nigel de Jong in the holding role alongside Mark van Bommel.

Van Marwijk had the option of a slightly more offensive formation by bringing in Rafael van der Vaart instead of de Zeeuw, which would have provided a little more creative support for Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.

Instead he went conservative and stuck with his preferred 4-2-3-1.

Tabarez, meanwhile, didn’t risk his skipper Diego Lugano, bringing Diego Godin back into central defence alongside Mauricio Victorino, while Martin Caceres came in for the outstanding left back Jorge Fucile, suspended for an accumulation of yellows.

Caceres’ would be one of the key roles, charged with the responsibility of controlling Robben. Michel Bastos wasn’t up for it a few days earlier.

The other big question was how Tabarez would handle (pardon the pun) the suspension of Luis Suarez, and that was answered by a conservative decision. Going from a front three to a two, Tabarez stiffened his midfield, going with a 4-4-2 instead of a 4-3-3.

Into the advance central midfield role came Walter Gargano, forcing Diego Perez out to the right and Egido Arevalo into the holding role, while left sided Alvaro Pereira came back into the starting side

Tabarez’s tactics were clear, absorb and counter through the twin strike force of Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani. There was no Sebastian Abreu. It was a formation built for the long haul.

With van Marwijk also going conservative with two screeners, we looked to be in for a war of attrition.

For almost 20 minutes that’s exactly what we got, as both sides sussed each other out. It was cat and mouse, everything measured, with Holland the slightly more offensive of the two. Not that they were gun-ho, and nor were Uruguay completely retreating.

It would take something special from the Dutch to open this game up, perhaps a moment of fantasy from Robben, Robin van Persie or Sneijder, or a set piece, or something else.

Holland’s fullbacks haven’t exactly been offering the type of integration to suggest they would be a goal threat, so it’s probably fair to say that the source of Holland’s opener, a spectacular long distance bomb from skipper Giovanni van Bronkhorst, was a surprise to even the La Celeste.

The Netherlands were in the driver’s seat and could now invite Uruguay forward and play on the counter.

But they had to be careful at the back, ensuring there was enough cover to deal with the threat of Forlan and an under-rated Uruguay midfield that has shown, throughout the tournament, it can get forward and integrate with the front men.

But it is here that Holland made an error. It was one thing to have numbers back, but entirely another to drop off and allow space for Forlan to get in between the midfield and defence.

Instead of retreating, they should have been up, squeezing the space, looking to control the match.

How naïve. They allowed Forlan to turn, gave him space to shoot and watched as the Jabulani bent off Maarten Stekelenburg and in.

For a tournament that started with a drought of strikes from distance, we suddenly had two in half. Special strikers from the skippers, we were square at the break.

Hesitating to take the initiative before the game, van Marwijk reacted at the break, bringing in van der Vaart for de Zeeuw. The idea was that he would play advanced of van Bommel and closer to Sneijder.

Now that the Dutch had a more offensive formation, they should be able to control the match, the theory went. Now it was down to mentality. How would they deal with the expectation and weight of history?

Against a spirited Uruguay side that have proved they have an uncanny ability to stick around, this would be no easy feat, and so it proved in the opening half of the second half.

The longer Uruguay kept it at 1-1, the more chance they had of sneaking it. Hopefully the Dutch would melt, they gambled.

But shortly after a Forlan free-kick tested Stekelenburg and sent a warning, the Dutch got going.

In the 68th minute they finally got van der Vaart, van Persie, Sneijder and Robben all inside the box, but Fernando Muslera made a save to deny the substitute.

Two minutes later, after Robben went to work on the right, Holland were able to shift the ball through the midfield to Sneijder, who turned onto this right foot and snuck one in off the shin of Maximiliano Periera.

Would the Dutch now sit on their lead, as they had done in the first period, or stay on the front foot, in control?

With the formation set up as it was, there was only one answer, and Robben’s headed goal a few minutes later, from a Dirk Kuyt cross, looked to have provided the exclamation mark. 3-1 and, at last the Dutch were in total control.

It was only then that Tabarez brought on Abreu. Too late, it seemed. A late Maximiliano Pereira strike, early in stoppage time, made for a very nervous final minute or two, but the Dutch got through.

They will be mighty relieved, and can now start planning for the final.

Whoever they meet, Germany or Spain, is likely to be the favourite, so the Netherlands must up the ante, especially if it’s the Germans.

Privately, you sense, they will be hoping it’s Spain, another side looking for it’s first ever World Cup. That would indeed be another nervy night.

Tony Tannous has been keeping his usual close eye on all the goings-on in South Africa. Join him at 8.00pm tonight (EST) for a Live World Cup Q & A when he’ll address your thoughts, questions and comments on this morning’s semi final and look ahead to tomorrow morning’s much anticipated Germany vs Spain clash. Leave a comment or question now or at 8pm, when Tony joins us.