No Argentina, no Brazil. Who’d have thunk it? That makes it two World Cups in a row that neither of these nations have made it to the semi finals. One of them had appeared in the previous FIVE World Cups, so this is something of a shock.

Enough about them, though. The four teams we are left with have earned every right to be there. Holland, through their newly discovered unity coupled to their not-quite-but-close-enough Total Football. Germany through their ever present self belief and attacking prowess. Spain through their patience and precision passing. And finally Uruguay through their combination of pace and attacking power.

Now they face off for the right to play in the final and I have to tell you, making a prediction is not easy. I ballsed up the quarter finals, but I’m not one to give up, so I’ll give it a go.

Uruguay v Holland

It would be far too easy to say it’s Holland in the final, especially given the manner in which they dismissed Brazil and the fact that Uruguay are without their goal machine and quarter final hero (or villain, if you’re from Ghana) Luis Suarez.

You cannot discount a Uruguayan team that not only boasts Diego Forlan, but surely now has a belief that they are destined to reach the final after the remarkable events in their quarter final. God, if there is one, is smiling down on the only remaining South American side in the competition.

God, however, does not play football. The Dutch do and they do it brilliantly. As long as there is a fit and healthy Wesley Sneijder on the pitch, the Almighty had better pray to himself on Uruguay’s behalf.

As much as I would like to see the two time world champions back in the final for the first time since Jesus rolled back a rock and declared himself resurrected, Uruguay will find Holland a tad less moveable.

Head to Head: It’s all square on the international stage between these two with a win apiece. The most recent result went in favour of Uruguay in 1980, a 2-0 win on home soil.

Prediction: Without Suarez and with no disrespect to Forlan, I can’t see Uruguay scoring. 2-0 to the Netherlands.

Germany v Spain

Oh so much harder to call. On performances alone in this World Cup your money has to go on Germany. Spain have passed and passed and passed but struggled, for the most part to turn that into goals, goals, goals. No such trouble for Germany, three time four-goal scorers already, including that quarter final blitz of Argentina.

And yet Spain’s advancement in South Africa has been relentless. They…always…find…a…way. Usually through David Villa, it has to be said, as the usually effervescent Fernando Torres has been woefully disappointing. It will be interesting to see if he starts against Germany. Quite how long you can carry a dead weight, even one such as Torres, before realising that he’s holding you back, I don’t know, but Vicente del Bosque has stuck with his man this far.

He can’t ignore the impact Cesc Fabregas had when coming on against Paraguay and the clamour to play him back home must surely be mounting. Cesc, however, has a shoulder injury to overcome first.

Germany on the hand need only find a suitable replacement for the suspended Thomas Muller. Not an easy task, but the German squad is a strong one. Hamburg’s Trochowski replaced him for the last few minutes against Argentina, he could be the man to do it again.

Otherwise, it’s as you were for the Germans. Schweinsteiger and Ozil will pull the strings, Klose and Podolski will try to hit the onion bag. I must point out here that I usually know the name of the German defence during an international tournament – not so this time, I have to look them up. Just goes to show what changes have been made by Loew, eh. (It’s Friedrich, Lahm, Mertesacker and Boateng, in case you have had the same trouble as me!)

None of this is helping me get to a result though. If Spain click, and they’ve been getting very close, they will play the ball round Germany all day long. If not, Germany will simply steamroller them.

Head to Head: 20 times they’ve faced each other and it’s tight (so no help there for the prediction!). Spain have won six times, Germany eight with six draws.

Prediction: Oh, alright…I pick Germany to win by the odd goal. 2-1. There. I’ve said it. And it makes for a very tasty Dutch / German final too!