Netherlands head for the final

The Netherlands will finally return to the World Cup final this year after a thrilling second half against Uruguay.

The first half was absorbing but arguably lacking in outright excitement, but the teams went in at half time level at 1-1 thanks to a stunning long range strike from Giovanni van Bronckhorst - a real contender for goal of the competition - and a spinning shot from Maarten Stekelenburg should have been able to palm over the crossbar.

From the kick off in the second period it was a gripping 45 minutes. The game was won with around 20 minutes to go. Wesley Sneijder's low shot snuck in off the post after a series of lucky deflections, including a possible touch from Robin van Persie. There's an argument that the Arsenal striker was offside, but for me it was so close to call that criticism either way would be unfair.

Three minutes later, Arjen Robben rose in the area to thump in a wonderful header to make it 3-1 and send the Dutch to the final against Spain or Germany. Maximiliano Pereira's lovely finish from a short free kick in the 92nd minute made for a spectacular climax as Uruguay desperately pushed for an equaliser and the clock ticked on and on. Sadly for them, it wasn't to be.

After the match, all the talk was about the Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel. Even in a very physical and quite spiky match, that rotten little scrote managed to stand out. How he didn't pick up a yellow card until the 94th minute is beyond me. He should've been dismissed far earlier.

Still, congratulations to Holland. You want Germany to get through tomorrow now, don't you? Admit it.