Europe regains dominant form in World Cup semifinals

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Europe is back in its traditional power spot at the World Cup, producing three of the four semifinalists and ensuring its streak of having at least one team in the final since 1934 will continu


JOHANNESBURG — A week ago, Europe was done, its biggest stars flops, its supremacy in international soccer hijacked by South America.

So much for that.

Europe is back in its traditional power spot at the World Cup, producing three of the four semifinalists and ensuring its streak of having at least one team in the final since 1934 will continue.

All that moaning and groaning that could be heard above the din of the vuvuzelas? Only six of Europe's 13 teams making it out of the group stage, compared with all five from South America and two from Asia, which has yet to be mistaken for an international powerhouse?

Forget all that. The only outsider remaining is Uruguay, and if it loses to the Netherlands on Tuesday, Europe will be guaranteed its first title in a World Cup held outside the continent. Germany plays Spain in the other semifinal Wednesday.

"What the team showed, it was not only international level, but the level of champions," Germany coach Joachim Loew said after his squad dismantled Argentina, which had emerged as one of the favorites after winning its first four games with flair and style.

Yes, Europe had its worst showing in the group stage since the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams. But it probably wouldn't have looked quite so bad if not for the misadventures of defending World Cup champ Italy and 2006 runner-up France.

Spain's semifinal with Germany is a game probably better suited for a final. It is, in fact, a rematch of the Euro 2008 final, which the Spanish won to capture their first major title since 1964.

"The Germans have played a brilliant World Cup so far," Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "We're also at the top of our game, I think. It will be a game between two rivals who enjoy having the ball, and I think it will be a beautiful battle."

The Netherlands have a lock on that dreaded "best team never to win the World Cup" title after losses in the 1974 and '78 finals. And the Dutch haven't always looked like the Clockwork Oranje here.

But they are the only team with a perfect record in South Africa, and their unbeaten streak is up to 24.

"This is the moment we have been waiting for two years," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said.



Uruguay has been waiting a while, too. The two-time champions haven't been in the semifinals since 1970, and what better way to declare South America's burgeoning prominence than by having someone other than traditional powerhouses Brazil and Argentina make the final? A team that needed to beat Costa Rica in the playoffs just to get to South Africa, no less.

Notes

• Dutch striker Robin van Persie has been cleared to face Uruguay in the semifinals despite the left elbow injury he got against Brazil. A Dutch team spokeswoman said a scan showed the injury was not as serious as first feared.

• Dunga is out as coach of Brazil's national team. He and his staff were fired Sunday, two days after Brazil was beaten by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

A new coach will be appointed before the end of the month, the Brazilian Football Federation said. Former Brazil player Mano Menezes, AC Milan coach Leonardo and Wanderley Luxemburgo are being mentioned as potential successors to Dunga.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who coached Brazil to its fifth World Cup title in 2002, had been mentioned as a successor, but he has signed a two-year deal to be with the Brazilian club Palmeiras.

• The Nigerian Football Federation has fired its president and vice president after the nation's leader suspended the national team for two years. In a statement, the federation's executive committee said president Sani Lulu and vice president Amanze Ugbulam, as well as a member of the federation's technical committee, had been fired. The committee also apologized for the team's performance at the World Cup.

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