We’ll not underestimate Uruguay: Van Marwijk

The Netherlands will not take Uruguay’s challenge lightly in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said on Saturday.

Van Marwijk, who guided the Dutch into their fourth semi-final with a thrilling 2-1 win over five-time winners Brazil on Friday, expects a tough battle against the two-time winners, who reached their first semi-final in 40 years with a penalty shootout win over Ghana.

‘They fought and they survived,’ said van Marwijk, who took over from Marco van Basten following Euro 2008.

‘Like us they deserve their place in the semi-finals and must on no account be underestimated.’

Van Marwijk also recognised that both teams would have several key players suspended.

‘I am certainly not rejoicing over their problems as we also have players suspended in the shape of Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong,’ he said.

Uruguay will definitely be without joint leading scorer Luis Suarez, who was red-carded for handling Dominic Adiyah’s goal-bound header in the last minute of extra-time which would have won Friday’s quarter-final for Ghana.

Jorge Fucile will also miss Tuesday’s game, while there are also have doubts over captain Diego Lugano, who went off in the first-half after suffering a right knee injury.

Van Marwijk said he was impressing on the players that beating Brazil did not mean they had achieved anything.

‘I understand all the euphoria sweeping the country and that’s beautiful,’ said van Marwijk, who numbers Borussia Dortmund and Feyenoord among the clubs he has coached.

‘But we have been down this road before in the past with other Dutch teams and the people have been let down time and again.

‘We have to take the duel with Uruguay very seriously because, mentally, it is difficult to get yourselves back into the mix after a victory against Brazil.

‘It has now been two years that I have been trying to get the players to understand that in order to be world champions, they must shine regularly without ever letting up.’

Van Marwijk, who has proved effective in quelling any signs of splits in the camp, said he approved of the team taking pride in themselves but cautioned against complacency.

‘When it (pride) is warranted, I believe it is a good thing,’ said van Marwijk.

‘But I don’t operate on pride. I was happy at the moment of victory against the Brazilians but we still haven’t won anything.

‘We haven’t succeeded in our mission yet. The target, to be crowned champions, is not yet achieved.

‘We are going to now meet a very dangerous opponent and we mustn’t reproduce the same errors from the recent past. We must avoid all forms of euphoria.’