Nigel de Jong is hoping his Holland team-mates can keep alive his dreams of playing in the World Cup final as he prepares to sit out the match which could take them there.

The 25-year-old Manchester City midfielder picked up his second yellow card of the tournament in yesterday's 2-1 quarter-final win over favourites Brazil and, like full-back Gregory van der Wiel who suffered the same fate, will be a frustrated spectator for their last-four clash with Uruguay in Cape Town on Tuesday night.

However, De Jong revealed he has already sought assurances from the rest of the squad that he will still have a chance to help secure a first ever World Cup win for the Dutch.