Johannesburg: Arjen Robben has been ruled out of the Netherlands opening World Cup game against Denmark, after flying in to join his teammates six days late because of a hamstring injury.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said Saturday it was too risky for the winger to play at Soccer City on Monday. But he hopes Robben will be fit in time to face Japan in Durban on June 19 and Cameroon in Cape Town five days later.
"In the last three weeks, he's only had one full training (session) and he's played 40 minutes. We're going to take it easy with him," he told Dutch broadcaster NOS.
Robben sustained up the injury in a warmup game against Hungary on June 5.
After scoring two goals as a second half substitute, he played a back-heeled pass to a teammate five minutes from the end of the game and collapsed holding his left leg.
Van Marwijk had to decide whether to risk one of his most important players against the Danes. But that might have aggravated the injury and sidelined Robben for the rest of the competition.
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