CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The World Cup turned sour for South America in the quarterfinals. Only one team from the continent advanced — Uruguay, the least likely of all to make the final four.
Yet here the Celeste are, ready to play the Netherlands today for a spot in the World Cup final. The last nation to make the 32-team field, needing a playoff against Costa Rica to get in, Uruguay is alive and well in South Africa.
“Uruguay is a strong side and we will have to be very concentrated,” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said. “They are fighters, survivors.”
Indeed. From that two-game playoff with Costa Rica to winning their first-round group without allowing a goal, the Uruguayans have made an impressive showing. They punctuated it with wins over South Korea 2-1 in the second round and Ghana 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals.
Tough as they have been, the Uruguayans needed the “hand of Suarez” to stay in the tournament.
Striker Luis Suarez blocked a Ghana shot with his arm at the goal line in the final seconds of extra time Friday. He drew a red card and is suspended for the semifinal, but Asamoah Gyan hit the crossbar with the ensuing penalty kick.
Reprieved, Uruguay won the shootout, and Suarez was hailed as a hero back home.
“I suppose the press have made the Netherlands (the) favorite,” Uruguay captain Diego Lugano said. “The Netherlands and Uruguay play differently but we are at this stage on merit and we’ll just have to see what happens in the match.”
Lugano might not see the field because he has a right knee injury. Fellow defender Diego Godin has a left hamstring problem, but coach Oscar Tabarez would not discuss his lineup or those injuries.
Footnotes.
Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has dropped a threat to suspend the national soccer team from playing for two years because of its poor World Cup showing and corruption allegations.
• Coach Gerardo Martino is leaving the Paraguay national team, and striker Roque Santa Cruz says this was his last World Cup.
World Cup schedule
SEMIFINALS
Today
At Cape Town, South Africa
Uruguay vs. Netherlands, 12:30 p.m., ESPN, KCEC-50 (Sp.)
Wednesday
At Durban, South Africa
Germany vs. Spain, 12:30 p.m. ESPN, KCEC-50 (Sp.)
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Saturday
At Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 12:30 p.m. KMGH-7/KCEC-50
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday
At Johannesburg, 12:30 p.m. KMGH-7/KCEC-50
