Red, White, Blue Or Orange: Previewing The World Cup Semi-Finals

On Tuesday, Holland takes on Uruguay and a day after, Germany takes on Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.

So who's going to win and go to the Final?

After going 2-2 in quarterfinal predictions- including two disastrous predictions in favor of Argentina (3-2 over Germany) and Brazil (2-1 over Holland), we hope to be perfect this time around...

Holland vs. Uruguay

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been boasting that his save on the penalty line was the new "Hand Of God," but if you are a Uruguay fan, you probably hoped it wasn't him who did the great and dirty deed in the 121st minute of extra time against Ghana.

Suarez has been a talisman for the side, and aside from Diego Forlan, has been the best player for Boys from Montevideo so far this year. Jorge Fucile is also suspended, and Nicolas Lodeiro is definitely out. Diego Lugano and Diego Godin are also doubts.

This Uruguay will be able to be as good as the Dutch in terms of play, but are lightweights up front.

The Dutch have proven throughout this World Cup to be just the opposite. With a demonstrated ability to score goals in international play, the Dutch will be a tough stop for Uruguay. 

The biggest question mark for Uruguay comes at the speed of Arjen Robben's: an inability to counter Robben will most likely prove to be disatorous for the Uruguayan side. 

As fans, we can only hope that Robben will be far less theatrical and actually spend more time with the ball at his feet than trying to get a 9 from the Russian judge.

As the Brazilians found out, Wesley Schnejder is going to be a threat.

One thing that Holland needs to do is to learn how to kill the game off. Up 2-1 and with Brazil threatening, Holland broke a couple of times and failed to score. It was awful. They'd better not make the same mistakes against Forlan & Co., who have already proven they can crush hopes on the break.

Prediction: Orange Glow: Holland 3-1

Germany vs Spain

After taking Messi, Tevez and Maradona behind the woodshed in the quarterfinals, suddenly the Germans have found themselves as World Cup winners-designate. 

Against Puyol and the tight Spanish defense, the Germans will struggle to create as many goal-scoring chances as they did against Argentina and England, and they will have to be prepared for long periods of ball-chasing as Xavi, Iniesta et al., play some beautiful football.

Germany will have to cover Spain's savior thus far: David Villa- who has scored in almost every single game, and is by far and away the most accomplished striker of this tournament– sorry Miroslav Klose and your German colleagues.

However, the Germans are not with out striking power. Spain needs to keep a handle on Schweinsteiger, who could cause all sorts of problems. And if Klose and Lukas Podolski manage to get loose, then Spain could be in trouble.

Evenly matched through midfield and the front two, both these teams have talent on the offense ends of the ball.

Defensively, the major question is how well the German keeper can step up. Spain has demonstrated a strength and dependence on their goalkeeper and team captain Iker Casillas (who stepped up big against Paraguay during the quarter-finals).  

Observing the game from their respective sidelines (with an anticipated look of annoyance) will be Germany's Thomas Muller, who's scored a bundle of goals, but will miss out after a stupid handball against Argentina earned him his second yellow card in two games.

Prediction: A classic. Spain 2, Germany 1 (After Extra Time)