If Uruguay hopes to beat the Netherlands, Diego Forlan will have to provide the heroics when they meet in today’s World Cup semifinals in South Africa. (EPA)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Uruguay is aiming to keep alive South American interest in the World Cup this week as Europe's leading nations prepare to dominate the semifinals.

Europe is already assured of one place in Sunday's final since Germany and Spain meet in the semifinals on Wednesday. If the Netherlands beats Uruguay on Tuesday, Europe will be assured of its first World Cup title outside its home continent.

With the powers of Brazil and Argentina eliminated, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is warning his players not to take anything for granted against the less illustrious South Americans of Uruguay.

“Uruguay is a strong side and we will have to be very concentrated,” Van Marwijk said. “They are fighters, survivors.”

Van Marwijk and his Uruguay counterpart Oscar Tabarez are both having to fill holes in their starting lineups caused by injuries and suspensions.

Chief among them will be suspended Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, who knows all about scoring against Dutch defenses after 43 goals in 39 games for Ajax last season.

Full back Jorge Fucile also is suspended after picking up a second yellow card against Ghana, while central defender Diego Godin missed that game with a left thigh problem and remains in doubt.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano also is fighting to be fit after injuring a right knee ligament against Ghana.

The Dutch defense will have to be reconstructed, with right back Gregory van der Wiel and defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong both suspended after collecting their second yellow cards of the tournament against Brazil.

Former Germany great Franz Beckenbauer says his country's blend of players from different cultures has put it on course for a fourth World Cup title.

Eleven of Germany's 23 players would have been eligible to play for different countries and Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player and coach, and says the current team is “surprising everybody.”

He says the players born outside Germany have brought a different dimension to the team's traditional style of discipline and teamwork.

Germany coach Joachim Loew says he will wear his blue V-neck sweater in the semifinal because it has brought him good luck.

“I am not superstitious but the coaching staff want me to wear it because we always score four goals when I wear it,” Loew said.

“They won't let me wash it and I do think I will wear it again.”

World football's two most prestigious player of the year awards will merge into a single title called the Ballon d'Or from next year.

Europe's existing Ballon d'Or and FIFA's World Player of the Year award will cease to exist as individual entities and the new award will be given for the first time in January.