World Cup 2010: Holland v Uruguay in pictures

The first semi-final at this year's World Cup takes place at Green Point stadium and promises to be an intriguing affair. The neutrals and believers in fair play will be cheering on Holland after Suárez's hand (and some poorly-taken penalties) robbed Ghana of a place in the semis but la celeste olímpica won't care as they attempt to win their third World Cup. In case you're interested fact fans, they are the smallest country (with a population of 3.3m) to have ever won the tournament Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Photograph: Cameron Spencer/guardian.co.uk The Uruguay fans must be the only people who think this Photograph: Fernando Vergara/AP Photograph: Fernando Vergara/guardian.co.uk Holland's fans show what they think of the matter Photograph: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto Ltd Photograph: Richard Sellers/guardian.co.uk A prediction of the result is made in the Uruguay dressing room Photograph: Alex Livesey /FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Alex Livesey /guardian.co.uk It's an open start and both teams are pushing forward in an attempt to create chances. Five minutes in, Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Pereira (left) has a half-chance, well, it was more like an eighth of a chance as he tries to beat Stekelenburg in the Holland goal from 45 yards out. However, the only person likely to be troubled by it is the person in seat 47 in row Z Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Christophe Simon/guardian.co.uk Joris Mathijsen slides in to knock the ball away from Uruguay's danger man Diego Forlan. The only time that the two teams have met previously in the World Cup was in a group game 1974, which the Dutch won 2-0 with Jonny Rep scoring both goals. Forlan's father Pablo played in the match and Diego must be hoping he has better luck than his father did 36 years ago Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk Eighteen minutes in and Holland's captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst opens the scoring with one of the goals of the tournament. He receives the ball about 35 yards out with no-one around him, takes one touch to control it, then absolutely leathers it and the ball flies like an arrow, straight and true ... Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/guardian.co.uk ... Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera dives and just gets the faintest of fingertip touches to the ball, but not enough to stop it as it flies into the top corner Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/guardian.co.uk After a strike of that quality Van Bronckhorst has every right to celebrate Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters Photograph: Carlos Barria/guardian.co.uk As in the Brazil game, Arjen Robben is yet again the recipient of a number of clattering challenges aimed at putting him off his stride Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Christophe Simon/guardian.co.uk Dirk Kuyt beats Uruguay's offside trap but his diving header goes wide Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/guardian.co.uk Oooh that's gotta hurt. Holland clear the ball from a Uruguay corner and the ball is hanging in the air above the edge of the box when Martin Caceres goes for a spectacular overhead kick, but unfortunately his left boot connects with the mouth of Demy De Zeeuw rather than the ball Photograph: Quinn Rooney/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Quinn Rooney/guardian.co.uk The Dutch are incensed, which leads to a bit of huffing and puffing as well as bit pushing and shoving. Wesley Sneijder ends up with a yellow card for his part in the handbags and Martin Caceres gets one for dangerous play Photograph: Quinn Rooney/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Quinn Rooney/guardian.co.uk Arjen Robben and Martin Caceres chase the ball ... Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Photograph: Richard Heathcote/guardian.co.uk ... now they try some synchronised kicking Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Christophe Simon/guardian.co.uk Since Holland scored, Uruguay have been slowly getting back into the game. Four minutes before half time they equalise with another stupendous effort by Diego Forlan. He receives the ball 35 yards out, cuts inside and then lets rip with a screamer ... Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images Photograph: Lars Baron/guardian.co.uk ... which goes straight down the middle of the goal towards Stekelenburg, but he misjudges the flight of the ball and takes a step to the right, which is his undoing. The goalkeeper gets a hand to the ball, but the power of the shot means that he can't stop it from flying into the back of the net Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jewel Samad/guardian.co.uk That's Forlan's fourth goal of the tournament and it's his third from outside of the box Photograph: Roberto Candia/AP Photograph: Roberto Candia/guardian.co.uk Mark Van Bommel takes time out from fouling Uruguayans to shield the ball from Walter Gargano Photograph: Mike Hewitt /FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Mike Hewitt /guardian.co.uk This synchronised business is contagious. Holland's Joris Mathijsen and Uruguay's Sebastian Abreu have a go at some pointing Photograph: Oliver Weiken/EPA Photograph: Oliver Weiken/guardian.co.uk Another game, another controversial goal. This time though it's Uruguay on the receiving end. Sneijder shoots from the edge of the area and it clips a defender before going through the legs of Robin Van Persie, who is offside by a matter of inches. The Uruguayans also claim he is interfering with play, but the referee ignores their pleas and gives the goal Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/guardian.co.uk Four minutes later, Holland score again. There's no doubting the legitimacy of this goal as Dirk Kuyt clips in a great cross towards the edge of the six yard box where Arjen Robben leaps ... Photograph: Roberto Candia/AP Photograph: Roberto Candia/guardian.co.uk ... and puts a powerful header back across the goal giving Fernando Muslera no chance Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Photograph: Jamie McDonald/guardian.co.uk That's 3-1 and Holland know they have one foot in the final Photograph: Quinn Rooney/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Quinn Rooney/guardian.co.uk The Dutch fans are whistling for time, willing the referee to put his whistle to his lips, when Maximiliano Pereira increases the volume of this whistling tenfold by rifling a shot into the Dutch net at the start of three minutes of injury time. It's going to be a long three minutes for the Dutch fans Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Despite some frantic attacking from Uruguay which causes some frantic defending from Holland, the South American side can't find the net again and lose the match 3-2. A dejected Mauricio Victorino thinks what might have been as he walks down the tunnel Photograph: Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images Photograph: Ryan Pierse/guardian.co.uk Van Bommel and Kuyt celebrate at full time. Though considering the amount of cynical fouls he committed, Van Bommel can think himself lucky he was still on the pitch at the end. It was hardly a classic performance by the Dutch, but it was functional and got the job done. They will definitely have to step up a gear if they want to beat either Germany or Spain when they meet the winner of that match in Sunday's final. Click here to look at all our galleries from the World Cup Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images Photograph: Scott Heavey/guardian.co.uk