Home  »     »   Uruguay vs Holland – the key head-to-head clashes

Uruguay vs Holland – the key head-to-head clashes

| 05.07.2010

With Uruguay and Holland about to do battle for a place in the World Cup final, we look at where the game could be won and lost.

Robin Van Persie vs Mauricio Victorino
Victorino has been an able deputy for the injured Diego Godin at the heart of Uruguay’s defence, and the centre-back will have to be at his best to cope with Van Persie.

Arsenal’s Van Persie is 4/1 to break the deadlock against Uruguay, and with his captain and fellow central defender Diego Lugano struggling with a knee injury, Victorino could be in for a busy evening.

Wesley Sneijder vs Diego Perez
Innovative, prolific and a 4/1 contender to be named player of the tournament, Sneijder is the driving force in Holland’s midfield.

The task of muting the Inter Milan playmaker is a daunting one, though Perez is a player capable of quelling the most dynamic of threats.

A fearless physical competitor, Perez is the human shield for the Uruguayan defence, and his tireless running will be crucial as he tracks Sneijder’s forages upfield.

Joris Mathijsen vs Diego Forlan
Despite securing a famous victory, Holland were less than assured in defence against Brazil. Andre Ooijer was a shaky replacement for the injured Mathijsen, and the Dutch will be glad that Mathijsen is fit to face Uruguay.

The Hamburg centre-back has the unenviable task of marking the lethal Diego Forlan, who is 6/1 to add to his three World Cup goals by opening the scoring for Uruguay.

Forlan will be particularly important for Uruguay, as his strike partner Luis Suarez is suspended. Forlan could also captain Uruguay against Holland if Lugano misses the game through injury.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst vs Edinson Cavani
Although Van Bronckhorst is 35 years old, he has enjoyed a steady World Cup campaign at left-back.

Cavani, however, will be the Dutch captain’s most probing challenger to date. The Palermo forward is a handful on the right wing, with the ability to run at defenders with pace, provide excellent service for others, and move into goalscoring positions himself.

Who do you think will be the key? Arjen Robben is 6/1 to score first against Uruguay. See the full Uruguay vs Holland market.

«
»

Author

Robbie Morris

Robbie studied sports journalism at the University of Gloucestershire, an establishment chosen for its proximity to Cheltenham racecourse, where he was a season ticket holder. Upon graduation, Robbie was a contributor to GolfPunk, a national magazine aimed at ridding golf of its traditionalist image, before joining the news.ladbrokes team.