SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Dutch World Cup squad hoping for Arjen Robben recovery

Record ID: 452991

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Dutch World Cup squad hoping for Arjen Robben recovery
  • Date: 8th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 7, 2010) (REUTERS) NETHERLANDS SQUAD JOGGING SECURITY PERSONNEL MORE OF SQUAD JOGGING PLAYERS STRETCHING WIDE SHOT OF PLAYERS STRETCHING PRESS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS PLAYERS TRAINING COACH BERT VAN MARWIJK VARIOUS OF TRAINING SESSION ROBIN VAN PERSIE (RIGHT) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK VAN BOMMEL, NETHERLANDS MIDFIELDER, SAYING: "I think Arjen's (Robben) a player who every coach who is here at the World Cup wants to have Arjen Robben in their squad. We are very glad that we have Arjen Robben and we hope that he recovers very soon." VAN BOMMEL TALKING TO PRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK VAN BOMMEL, NETHERLANDS CAPTAIN, SAYING: "We have three big challenges because I think they are very strong. Denmark qualified very easily, when we played against Japan in Holland we won 3-0 but it wasn't a deserved result we could have lost as well, and Cameroon is always strong, especially in Africa I think." ROBIN VAN PERSIE TALKING TO PRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBIN VAN PERSIE, NETHERLANDS STRIKER, SAYING: "I feel fresh in my mind, I can understand and believe that some of the players are a bit tired mentally, if you played 60 or 70 games a year already, but not for me. I'm feeling mentally fine, physically I'm getting there." PLAYER KICKING BALL
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA1E9XLV3JZ0ZEERB26QSQ10RDQ
  • Story Text: Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel hopes injured winger Arjen Robben can recover quickly.
    Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel said on Monday (June 7) that he hopes Arjen Robben can recover quickly from injury.
    Bayern Munich winger Robben scored twice as the Dutch thrashed Hungary 6-1 on Saturday (June 5) before limping off the pitch with a hamstring injury.
    The Dutch arrived in South Africa on Sunday (June 6) without Robben who stayed behind for a scan which revealed that the injury may be less serious than first thought, enabling coach Bert van Marwijk to keep him in his squad.
    After the first Dutch training session in Johannesburg, the experienced van Bommel wished his teammate a speedy recovery.
    "I think Arjen's a player who every coach who is hear at the World Cup wants to have Arjen Robben in their squad. We are very glad that we have Arjen Robben and we hope that he recovers very soon," he said.
    The Dutch qualified for the finals with ease, winning all eight of their qualifying games, but van Bommel said the team should take nothing for granted.
    "We have three big challenges because I think they are very strong," he said. "Denmark qualified very easily, when we played against Japan in Holland we won 3-0 but it wasn't a deserved result we could have lost as well, and Cameroon is always strong, especially in Africa I think."
    Robin van Persie missed five months of the season after injuring his ankle playing for his country in November, only returning in April, something the Arsenal striker feels may work to his advantage.
    "I feel fresh in my mind, I can understand and believe that some of the players are a bit tired mentally, if you played 60 or 70 games a year already, but not for me. I'm feeling mentally fine, physically I'm getting there," he said.
    The Netherlands begin the tournament on June 14 against Denmark and Van Marwijk can replace Robben up to 24 hours before that match. Japan and Cameroon are their other opponents in Group E.
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