The Netherlands: Robben is the key for Dutch, insists Gullit

Former Netherlands captain Ruud Gullit insists winger Arjen Robben will be the key to his side defeating Uruguay in the World Cup semi-final.

Gullit is the only Dutch captain to ever lift a major title as he skippered the Netherlands team which won the 1988 European Championships.

The Netherlands play Uruguay at Cape Town's Green Point stadium on Tuesday night and Gullit believes Bayern Munich winger Robben can be the match winner.

Looking at the Oranje's star players, Gullit was full of praise for the dynamic Dutch midfield duo of Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder, who has scored four goals here, and Robben.

"Robben has been a vital player," Gullit told FIFA.com.

"A player of Robben's quality is important because he makes defenders go on their heels, they don't know what they're doing, they have to double up and other players can take advantage that.

"He's so quick and agile, so we're happy he is back.

"Of course, Sneijder has been very important both scoring and providing goals.

"He's not particularly a goal scorer, he's a guy who usually makes other players score goals.

"Sneijder has not been a surprise for me, but it's a surprise that he has scored so many goals here."

The Netherlands have reached the World Cup final twice, but never won the trophy, and Gullit says the current squad under coach Bert van Marwijk can make up for the pain of defeat in the finals of 1974 and 1978.

"Everybody expects this to be the moment. We have been twice to the Final," said the former Feyenoord, PSV, AC Milan and Chelsea star.

"The difference is that this time we won't play the hosts - because in Germany, we had to play against Germany and in Argentina we had to face Argentina. This is a great opportunity to reach the Final."