Holland’s winning habit saw them tear up the script in Port Elizabeth and keep European hopes of glory in South Africa alive. Brazil simply combusted. A second-half breakdown in communication and concentration handed the Dutch a route back into a match which the South American’s were controlling in the first period. That was then followed by a fundamental defensive lapse at a set-piece, topped off by a petulant display of aggression from Felipe Melo which shackled coach Dunga’s opportunities to pursue an equaliser.
The Dutch kept their heads, exposed the weaknesses in the Brazil make-up and deserved their passage to the last four. In doing so they enforced major surgery on many a World Cup Fantasy lineup and we are now left gauping at four or five redundant bright yellow shirts on our squad page.
Big names will be culled. Maicon and Michel Bastos – full-backs that have served us so well with their foraging attacking runs, will now be cast aside. The languid Kaka, often disappointing but no less influential in the midfield will follow them into the Fantasy wilderness. Then there’s Luis Fabiano who briefly slipped on the Golden Boot, only to find it forcefully removed by Wesley Sneijder’s interventions. Fabiano flies home in clogs this weekend.
A supporting cast of Juan, Lucio and Julio Ceaser in goal will keep those headline acts company in what will be the biggest clear out of Fantasy talent so far in the tournament…
Substantial funds will be raised. That list of Samba talent doesn’t come cheap and optimism kept their prices on the rise right up until the McFIFA transfer deadline. Finding a home for this newfound wealth, whilst attempting to pursue differentials that will help us keep ahead or catch Fantasy rivals, is our new task.
Uruguay’s progress in a remarkable match in Soccer City may have provided relief for us Fantasy Managers but it’s very doubtful that their squad provides any further options for investment. In fact with Luis Suarez now suspended for the Semi with Holland, he will be shopped out en masse during the round. His red will have locked him into the captaincy for some Fantasy Managers and with the Dutch orange hot favourites to make the Final, it’s unlikely that we will see faith kept in the Ajax striker. Uruguay will continue to provide a cheap route for squad filler but little more.
The smart money is on the Dutch right now of course with the usual names – Sneijder, Arjen Robben and the flattering to deceive Robin Van Persie, all topping the shopping list for those Fantasy Managers who sold them on prior to the clash with Brazil.
Elsewhere a knee injury in the warm-up to defensive rock Joris Mathijsen has cast doubt over his availability for the final two games. Gregory Van der Wiel, the forward-thinking right-back is also suspended for the semi-final, ruling him out as an option we can turn to once more. These setbacks now boost the status of the unfashionable industry provided by John Heintinga and Gio Van Bronkhurst. Who would have thought we’d be considering them as squad saviours at this stage in the tournament?
Caution is required though. The last four must be completed before we can be really sure of the damage our squads will suffer and the resources available to repair it. Today’s Argentina vs Germany tie could hand us a plethora of options – particularly if Germany prevail. Spain’s encounter with Paraguay is expected to go to script but if the resolute South American’s choose stamp on that, we’d be looking at further scalpel work and an influx of new mid-price considerations.