So now Gio van Bronckhorst, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, the goalscorers in a deserved triumph over spirited Uruguay, have the chance to succeed where such legendary names as Johan Cruyff, Johnny Rep and Johan Neeskens failed.  If the men in orange inevitably take the plaudits, a silvery fox on the touchlines played a key part. Bert van Marwijk’s decision to withdraw a holding midfielder, Demy De Zeeuw, and send on the more attack-minded Rafael van der Vaart for the second half set Uruguay a challenge too far.  In the end, it didn’t really matter that it never felt quite like a World Cup semi-final, although Fifa should have offered the blocks of empty seats to local children, giving them a memory for life. For last night was about Dutch memories.  For now the Dutch can slay the ghosts that haunt their sleep, that keep alive those painful images of Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller punishing their complacency in Munich in 1974. Or the distressing memory of Mario Kempes striking amidst the tickertape in Buenos Aires four years later.  That wonderful Dutch generation twice failed at the last. A lesser collection of individual players now hopes to end that wait, overcoming either Germany or Spain in Soccer City. If Van Marwijk’s tactical tweak was vital last night, a change he made in the mood of the team was even more important.  Sneijder, Robben, Van der Vaart and Robin van Persie would not make a good relay team because each would want to keep the baton. Van Marwijk has ended that selfish mentality, making each think of the wider good. Such unity was captured after every goal, when those on the pitch celebrated with those on the bench. They are committed to each other and to victory.  ''We cultivated this mentality,’’ said Van Marwijk. ''We have banished complacency. Today, I just said to them: ‘Don’t let this chance slip away.’ They didn’t. I love attacking, beautiful football but you have to start with the players doing their defensive jobs and in the right positions.  ''We played a wonderful game against Germany in 1974 but we lost when we should have won. We played well and we had a unique generation. Johan Cruyff was the best footballer I ever saw. We are (now) strong as a ‘team’, and I want to stress the word ‘team’.’’  He will watch intently this evening’s second semi-final. ''Spain are playing the best football in the world, but Germany have been the best team at this championships. We’ll take either of them. It’ll be an interesting match. It would be unique to play Germany in the final, as it was in 1974.’’  How the Dutch fans would love that. Dressed as if heading out on the ultimate hen party, Holland’s magnificent supporters had begun partying long before kick-off, turning the Waterfront area into a sea of orange. Some were dressed as cow-girls, others had plastic edam cheeses on their heads and most came armed with orange vuvuzelas.  Even at half-time when Uruguay had just equalised, the Dutch fans kept the faith. The first half had been a tale of two captains, of Diego Forlan but first Van Bronckhorst. In setting the stage for the opening goal, Mark van Bommel went in hard, nastily hard, and Walter Gargano faltered at the sight of the Dutchman’s studs. Gargano pulled out of the tackle, although he still had to withstand the force of Van Bommel’s challenge.  Uruguay endured further pain. The ball was now under Dutch sway, De Zeeuw exchanging passes with Sneijder before transferring the ball to Van Bronckhorst, whose left-footed strike touched 61mph as it covered the 41 yards past Fernando Muslera. Not even Luis Suarez could have kept it out.  Suarez’s absence had brought in Edinson Cavani, forcing Forlan to work higher up the pitch but four minutes from the break he dropped deep to devastating effect. Collecting possession 30 yards out, his blonde tresses flowing behind him, Forlan cut inside and brought his left foot down into the ball.  Maarten Stekelenburg has been one of the keepers of this World Cup but he erred badly here. Sticking out a left hand far from convincingly, the Ajax keeper failed to prevent the ball flying into the net. Maybe he can get some lessons from Suarez back in Amsterdam. As the vanquished keeper beseeched the heaven for answers, Forlan sprinted to one group of Uruguay supporters. ''Three Million Dreams’’ read one banner. Uruguay’s tiny population were daring to dream. Not for long.  Van Marwijk gambled, altering his midfield. For all the fear of leaving the back-door open, Holland were fully committed to attack, wonderfully so. By now the Dutch vuvuzelas were blowing a gale, hitting hurricane force with 20 minutes remaining. Sneijder’s shot had a few stops en route into Uruguay’s net, notably off Maxi Pereira, but it was undoubtedly deserved.  Van Marwijk’s insistence that his players keep turning the screw, rather than showboating, was again seen when Dirk Kuyt lifted in a cross. Twisting his body, Robben met the ball brilliantly, heading it powerfully past Muslera.  Doubts briefly swamped Dutch minds when Maxi Pereira slid in a low left-footed but Van Marwijk’s history men held on and the party really started. Some notable snakes inhabit these parts but nothing as memorable as the merry orange conga, probably over the limit, that crawled through Cape Town last night.
Read a full match report of the World Cup 2010 semi-final game between Uruguay    and Holland at Green Point Stadium, Cape Town.