Dutch through to World Cup final

The Netherlands beat down Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday to advance to their third World Cup final, said reports from South Africa. They will face the winner of the other semifinal between Germany and Spain in the final. Dutch through to World Cup final Van Bronckhorst and Diego Forlan scored two long-distance goals for the Netherlands and Uruguay respectively in the first half. The final result was set by goals from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, and Maximiliano Pereira. Meanwhile in the German camp, injured captain Michael Ballack has left the squad in South Africa, amid rumors that he's at odds with his replacement, Philip Lahm, Deutsche Welle reports. Although the German squad is playing as a unit on the pitch, things don't seem quite so harmonious behind the scenes. Lahm has made it clear that he would like to continue to wear the armband after the World Cup but Ballack, 33, also intends to work his way back into Joachim Loew's team, presumably as captain. "This whole discussion is unnecessary," Oliver Bierhoff, the primarily administrative 'manager' of the German national team told reporters in South Africa. "At the end of the day, this topic is of zero importance this week. The issue can be addressed later, and then it will be for the coach (Joachim Loew) to decide." Alvaro Pereira and Mark van Bommel are seen during the game (Beta/AP)

Dutch through to World Cup final

Van Bronckhorst and Diego Forlan scored two long-distance goals for the Netherlands and Uruguay respectively in the first half.

The final result was set by goals from Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, and Maximiliano Pereira.

Meanwhile in the German camp, injured captain Michael Ballack has left the squad in South Africa, amid rumors that he's at odds with his replacement, Philip Lahm, Deutsche Welle reports.

Although the German squad is playing as a unit on the pitch, things don't seem quite so harmonious behind the scenes.

Lahm has made it clear that he would like to continue to wear the armband after the World Cup but Ballack, 33, also intends to work his way back into Joachim Loew's team, presumably as captain.

"This whole discussion is unnecessary," Oliver Bierhoff, the primarily administrative 'manager' of the German national team told reporters in South Africa. "At the end of the day, this topic is of zero importance this week. The issue can be addressed later, and then it will be for the coach (Joachim Loew) to decide."