There is little conjecture who the Uruguayans must target ahead of today’s semi-final match against the Dutch.

Although his World Cup campaign is only two and a half matches old - and the fact that he is probably still under an injury cloud - slippery winger, Arjen Robben is undoubtedly the main man for Holland.

He may not be as complete a player as elite teammate Wesley Sneijder, but Robben is capable of the type of sublime play that ignites a team, turns a game, and instigates wins.

You only need to compare Holland’s games pre-Robben’s return to their later performances this campaign to realise the effect he has on their play and potency.

Robben’s impact is two-fold: Holland gain more genuine, creative width in midfield and also the pressure is realised on spear-head Robin van Persie.

While immense focus and discipline must be placed on the Bayern Munich ace at all times, it is not the only problem that Uruguayan coach, Oscar Tabarez, must attempt to tackle.

A slate of injury worries and a couple of suspensions to important players have further increased the task that is set ahead of the South Americans.

Undoubtedly the most integral of these absentees is young maestro, Luis Suarez. Buoyed by his electrifying form in recent games, Suarez has been able to play as the creative, second-striker that was needed to supplement bookend, Diego Forlan.

But while his last-minute extra-time handball in Uruguay’s quarter-final clash with Ghana may have subsequently helped to ensure victory, it came at the cost of his participation in today’s semi.

Further adding importance to his absence is the fact that Suarez is very used to Dutch football – plying his trade for numerous seasons with Dutch powerhouse, Ajax.

He could have been today’s most important player, but instead is doomed to watch from the sidelines like the rest of us.

Joining him through suspension is the defender, Jorge Fucile, and injured teammate Nicolas Lodeiro – who has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a broken foot.

Their captain, Diego Lugano, is also carrying an injury and is in particular doubt to line up in the starting eleven.

Although Dutch coach, Bert van Marwijk, has no injury concerns to speak of (after van Persie was cleared on an elbow injury after their last win) he does have similar selection headaches due to suspensions.

Both fleet-footed winger, Gregory van der Wiel, and midfield mainstay, Nigel De Jong, will be forced to miss following consecutive yellow cards in previous matches. The former will be disappointed he won’t be able add to his ever-increasing reputation and further ignite talk of a big money transfer to one of Europe’s top clubs; while the De Jong’s absence should not be underestimated.

With his dogged, unrelenting style of play, De Jong’s loss is akin to losing two men, and a midfield reshuffle from the Dutch manager may be warranted to ensure he guarantees the same sort of pragmatism and robust midfield presence that have become features of this year’s Dutch campaign.

It may just prove to be one of the most interesting games of the tournament, in regards to how each team sets up and plays.

The Dutch will continue their much-criticised (yet successful) careful, deliberate style of play – the type they have advocated for the whole of this tournament thus far. They will seek to soak up the pressure and strike when the perfect opportunity arises.

But the Uruguayans, like many South American teams, revel in intensely physical and brutal encounters, and may just be on their game enough to keep their discipline and limit the spaces afforded to the Dutch going forward.

And one must never forget the danger that looms in the form of their vastly in-form striker, Forlan, at the other end.