Uruguay vs. Spain final... Who ya got?http://forum.acmilan-online.com/showpost.php?p=749196&postcount=1325 . And I can't even bring myself to try to find them likeable.
Football didn't deserve this .
Uruguay vs. Spain final... Who ya got?
Germany - Netherlands would be a dream, or a new nightmare.
I just want to see Torres get sent off after a dive.
The European Champions saw off their quarter-final opponents 1-0 courtesy of a late David Villa goal on Saturday to set up a World Cup last-four clash against Germany.
Spain are in the semi-finals for the first time ever - not since 1950, where they were part of a four-team final group, have they had such an opportunity to go all the way.
Del Bosque admits his side battled hard for their win, and were denied possession by the South American team but he remains confident of conquering Germany on Wednesday.
"It has been a very tough, very uncomfortable match but this is what we expected - they didn't let us play our game," Del Bosque said.
"In my time a Spanish side never felt so uncomfortable or passed the ball so inaccurately.
"But now it's an absolutely marvellous moment for Spanish football and our game is at the very top.
"We didn't play a terribly good match today but we are happy and we know we have the necessary resources to face any rival including Germany.
"It's a great moment for Spanish football. We beat Germany in the final of the Euros but they are among the elite teams and I think that speaks volumes for European football."
Del Bosque paid tribute to Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
"Casillas has been extraordinary and he made two magnificent stops tonight," he said.
"Villa is at the top of his form and was right there again - perhaps we could have scored earlier but Villa had the hunger."
But he insists that La Furia Roja will not be favourites, despite defeating their rivals in the final of the Euro 2008 championships two years ago.
In fact, Iniesta was full of praise for a Germany side who have taken the World Cup by storm.
"I am sure it will be a match between two sides who enjoy having the ball and it's going to be a beautiful battle," Iniesta said ahead of Wednesday's encounter.
"We have been following Germany's progress throughout the World Cup and they have done spectacularly well."
Turning to the Euro final which Spain won 1-0, Iniesta added: "I think it has nothing to do with what happened two years ago. That will have no part to play when we meet.
"Germany have played a brilliant World Cup so far and they have brought in a lot of young players who were not there in 2008.
"They must be tremendously motivated but we are also at the top of our game and keen to progress further."
Meanwhile Spain stopper Iker Casillas was revelling in saving a penalty from Oscar Cardozo during the 1-0 quarter final win over Paraguay, even though he gave some of the credit to number two Pepe Reina.
"The penalty was a pivotal moment and I was fortunate enough to save it," said skipper Casillas.
"To tell the truth I dived that way because I'd been chatting about it with Pepe Reina before the game.
"He said that Cardozo usually hit the ball hard and to his right-hand side. So, it came down to a mix of intuition, good luck and a team-mate's help."
The two sides will battle it out in Durban on Wednesday, and Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has also received positive news about defender Carlos Puyol.
Fabregas has been deployed late on from the bench in three of his side's game so far, replacing Xavi against Honduras and Fernando Torres on the other two occasions.
The Arsenal captain fell heavily on his shoulder in the quarter-final victory over Paraguay, but now, having been given all clear, could even be in-line to replace the underperforming Torres in Spain's starting eleven.
Barcelona defender Carlos Puyol has also been given the green light by medics after suffering blurred vision in the last match when he was hit in the face by the ball.
Where could I get pics of all the octopus predictions?