Uruguay and Holland resilience on display in quarter-final comebacks

After 45 minutes of their quarter-final encounters, both Uruguay and Holland were a goal down and staring at the World Cup exit door.

That each side managed to summon the spirit and resourcefulness required to come back and progress to the semi-finals should be duly noted before betting on the half-time/full-time market.

In turning a half-time deficit into a full-time victory, Bert Van Marwijk’s side did what no other team at this World Cup have managed, so a Uruguay/Holland 25/1 bet in the half-time/full-time market seems misguided.

When Sulley Muntari hit his long-range strike past Fernando Muslera at the end of the opening 45 minutes in Uruguay’s match with Ghana it was the first time the South Americans had fallen behind in a game at this World Cup.

For Uruguay to be drawing with Holland come the final whistle after being behind at half-time is a 14/1 chance.

That seems unlikely given Oscar Tabarez’s team had led each of their three previous matches 1-0 at the halfway stage. Uruguay to score first in the first half again is 7/2.

The goal Holland conceded to Brazil after 10 minutes of their quarter-final clash was the first time they’d let one in before the interval, though, so a 0-0 at half-time looks possible. It’s 6/5 and happened in three of the two sides’ 10 World Cup matches so far.

Holland seized the initiative before the break in their matches with Cameroon and Slovakia, though, before going on to win and that scenario is the justified 13/8 favourite.

However, with Uruguay’s defensive resilience and the Oranje’s more pragmatic and patient approach, a Draw/Holland bet seems likely to bring gains. It’s a very appetising 16/5.

Can Uruguay do the unthinkable and come back from a half-time defeat to reign victorious after 90 minutes? That’s the market’s outsider at 28/1. See the full Uruguay v Holland match betting market.