Van Persie bidding for Dutch return
Reuters - Monday 13 October 2008, 02:00
ROTTERDAM - Striker Robin van
Persie will join the Netherlands squad on Monday when they
gather for their World Cup Group Nine qualifier against Norway
in Oslo on Wednesday.
Van Persie pulled out earlier this week with hamstring
problems but will be tested to see if he can join the team that
beat Iceland 2-0 on Saturday to top the group with six points
after two matches.
Nigel de Jong and John Heitinga both missed the match
against the fourth-placed Norwegians, who have two points after
two matches, due to knee injuries.
The Dutch will travel to Norway with confidence and the
knowledge that a third successive win will put them firmly in
the driving seat, five points ahead of second-placed Scotland,
to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa.
Despite his injury problems, coach Bert van Marwijk managed
to pick a team that showed form against Iceland with outstanding
games by left winger Ryan Babel, who was a nightmare for his
marker, and defender Dirk Marcellis on his debut.
Wesley Sneijder is fit for the match, though Van Marwijk
will handle the midfielder with care as he has just recovered
from a knee injury.
"Sneijder has not played a match for two months and I will
take that in consideration" Van Marwijk told reporters.
"But it will be my decision if he starts and Real Madrid has
nothing to do with that," he added, referring to the contact he
had with Sneijder's club before adding him to the squad.
TWO DRAWS
Norway need a win to fight back in the group after drawing
against Iceland last month and Scotland on Saturday.
However, a home win against one of the major European
countries is something recent Norway teams have not experienced
as the last shock result at home was in 1993 when they beat
England to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
"We must not be afraid of the unknown, even though we're up
against Netherlands. We can take them if we use the right
tactics and have a clear mindset," coach Aage Hareide was quoted
as saying in tabloid VG.
"We are not out of the fight for second place in the group
after the draw in Scotland but what we can and must do is win."
Probable teams:
Norway: 1-Jon Knudsen; 2-Jon Hoiland, 5-Brede Hangeland,
3-Kjetil Waehler, 6-John Arne Riise; 9-Bjorn Helge Riise,
7-Fredrik Stromstad, 8-Christian Grindheim, 4-Fredrik Winsnes;
14-Steffen Iversen, 10-John Carew
Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Dirk Marcellis, 3-Andre
Ooijer, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 7-Dirk
Kuyt, 6-Mark van Bommel, 10-Rafael van der Vaart, 15-Demy de
Zeeuw, 11-Ryan Babel; 9-Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)
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