- Title: GERMANY: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP 2010: Dutch happy Robben back from injury
- Date: 28th June 2010
- Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 27, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS DUTCH TEAM ARRIVING AT PRINCESS MAGOGO STADIUM IN KWAMASHU TOWNSHIP BUS ARRIVING, PLAYERS GETTING OFF THE BUS ARJEN ROBBEN COMING OUT ONTO TRAINING PITCH AND JOINING ROBIN VAN PERSIE WIDE OF STADIUM MEDIA ARJEN ROBBEN RUNNING WITH TEAM MATES SECURITY AT STADIUM VARIOUS TEAM STRETCHING EXERCISES MEDIA VARIOUS GOALKEEPING PRACTICE WIDE OF MEDIA CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST SAYING "It is very important just before the World Cup you play a match and you get injured. It looked very serious and we were very disappointed. Then after two weeks, we got Arjen back he has already played his first minutes in this World Cup. I think we are all very pleased with the fact that he is back, he is a player that is very important for the team. And I am very happy he is part of the squad again." MEDIA CAMERA WIDE OF MEDIA CONFERANCE (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) BERT VAN MARWIJK HOLLAND COACH SAYING: "The word team and team building always has a friendly sound, but when you are friends with each other on this level then you won't win anything. You don't have to be real friends with each other, what is crucial is that you accept and respect each others qualities." TEAM TRAINING MEDIA TEAM TRAINING
- Embargoed: 13th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA1J5K5HQE6O9GU8DN3CQ6FUU1J
- Story Text: The Dutch World Cup squad are happy that Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben is fit again for their second round clash against Slovakia.
The Netherlands have received a major boost ahead of their second round clash against Slovakia with news that attacking winger Arjen Robben is fit to play.
The Dutch team's most potent attacking weapon, Robben showed that he has made a good recovery from the injury that kept him out of the early stages of the World Cup when he came on as a late substitute in their final Group E match against Cameroon and helped set up the winning goal when his shot hit a post and striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted the rebound to secure a 2-1 win.
Defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst said the squad are relishing the prospect of having him return to proper action in the knockout phase.
"It is very important just before the World Cup you play a match and you get injured. It looked very serious and we were very disappointed. Then after two weeks, we got Arjen back he has already played his first minutes in this World Cup. I think we are all very pleased with the fact that he is back, he is a player that is very important for the team. And I am very happy he is part of the squad again," he said.
Coach Bert van Marwijk said he welcomed the warmth felt in the team with news of Robben's impending return.
"The word team and team building always has a friendly sound, but when you are friends with each other on this level then you won't win anything. You don't have to be real friends with each other, what is crucial is that you accept and respect each others qualities," he said.
However, midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is a doubt for Monday's match (June 28) after failing to complete Sunday's (June 27) training session.
The Dutch are overwhelming favourites to beat the Slovaks, who sent holders Italy home with a sensational 3-2 upset win on Thursday (June 24), but Van Marwijk said the squad had practised penalties just in case. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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