Uruguay

Uruguay snuck into the World Cup courtesy of a playoff against Costa Rica.

Now, despite qualifying as the 5th best South American team, they are the only nation from the Americas left standing.

No one is giving them much of a show of upsetting the Netherlands in the Wednesday morning (NZ time) semifinal. The TAB is paying $5.85 for Uruguay to win in 90 minutes (Holland $1.60), $3.50 for Uruguay to progress to the final (Holland $1.28).

Don't buy into the hype of the Dutch victory over an imploding Brazil - Uruguay can make its first "final" since the underdog defeat of Brazil in 1950.

Primary to their success is striker Diego Forlan who has found the net 3 times in the tournament to date. Forlan has been the unsung star of the tournament, masterminding his team's 3-0 romp against South Africa in group play before scoring a spectacular free kick equaliser against Ghana in the quarterfinal.

While the Netherlands are on a record run of undefeated matches (24) in the international arena, Uruguay had to grind their way through South American qualification and then battle every step of the way once in SA. They are battle hardened and have conceded just twice at the tournament.

In a World Cup of upsets and surprises, Uruguay have the look of a Greece circa Euro 2004 about them. Unfashionable, unfancied but capable of going all the way. Worth a lazy $20 punt.