Dutch warned, Dunga axed, Maradona praised
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
JOHANNESBURG, July 5 (AFP): Favourites Netherlands were warned not to underestimate Uruguay ahead of a World Cup semi-final Tuesday while Brazil axed coach Dunga and fans of fellow flops Argentina want Diego Maradona to stay.
Legend Franz Beckenbauer hailed Germany as a "perfect team" while semi-final opponents Spain heard centreback Carles Puyol and reserve midfielder Cesc Fabregas are fit for the other semi-final in Durban Wednesday.
As the tournament entered the final straight in South Africa leading to the July 11 Johannesburg climax, sell-out crowds braced for individual showdowns set to enthrall them and multi-million international television audiences.
Dutch duo Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben come face to face with Uruguayan star Diego Forlan while goal kings David Villa of Spain and Miroslav Klose of Germany square off in another spicy cameo.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has begged his players to keep their feet on the ground and ignore the hype as they carry the tag of firm favourites into a showdown with injury and suspension-hit Uruguay.
"It will be a very dangerous match. The euphoria at home is massive and maybe it is good that we are so far away and cannot witness it because we really need to focus on Uruguay."
Veteran Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez countered: "We are among the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa. My players are united."
Uruguay are handicapped by the loss of striker Luis Suarez, barred after his red card for a deliberate goal-line handball that prevented Ghana becoming the first semi-finalists from Africa.
Defender Jorge Fucile is also suspended and captain and defender Diego Lugano and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro are injury doubts, heaping ever more pressure on graceful workaholic Forlan.
Netherlands defender Gregory van der Wiel and midfielder Nigel de Jong miss out after picking up second yellow cards of the tournament in the come-from-behind triumph over Brazil.
Hard-to-please Beckenbauer said the Germans will be favoured to defeat Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2008 final settled by a Fernando Torres goal.
"This team, it is the masterpiece of Joachim Loew. He has placed his mark on its make-up and created a perfect team," the World Cup winner as a player and a coach told the national football federation website.
Legend Franz Beckenbauer hailed Germany as a "perfect team" while semi-final opponents Spain heard centreback Carles Puyol and reserve midfielder Cesc Fabregas are fit for the other semi-final in Durban Wednesday.
As the tournament entered the final straight in South Africa leading to the July 11 Johannesburg climax, sell-out crowds braced for individual showdowns set to enthrall them and multi-million international television audiences.
Dutch duo Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben come face to face with Uruguayan star Diego Forlan while goal kings David Villa of Spain and Miroslav Klose of Germany square off in another spicy cameo.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has begged his players to keep their feet on the ground and ignore the hype as they carry the tag of firm favourites into a showdown with injury and suspension-hit Uruguay.
"It will be a very dangerous match. The euphoria at home is massive and maybe it is good that we are so far away and cannot witness it because we really need to focus on Uruguay."
Veteran Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez countered: "We are among the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa. My players are united."
Uruguay are handicapped by the loss of striker Luis Suarez, barred after his red card for a deliberate goal-line handball that prevented Ghana becoming the first semi-finalists from Africa.
Defender Jorge Fucile is also suspended and captain and defender Diego Lugano and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro are injury doubts, heaping ever more pressure on graceful workaholic Forlan.
Netherlands defender Gregory van der Wiel and midfielder Nigel de Jong miss out after picking up second yellow cards of the tournament in the come-from-behind triumph over Brazil.
Hard-to-please Beckenbauer said the Germans will be favoured to defeat Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2008 final settled by a Fernando Torres goal.
"This team, it is the masterpiece of Joachim Loew. He has placed his mark on its make-up and created a perfect team," the World Cup winner as a player and a coach told the national football federation website.