Durban, June 18 (DPA) Arjen Robben had his first full training session with the Dutch team Friday but coach Bert van Marwijk continued his no-risk approach by saying that he will probably not play in Saturday’s World Cup game against Japan.
‘Ordinarily no, but you never know,’ the coach told a news conference as to whether Robben would be playing.
Bayern Munich star Robben, 26, made a superfast recovery from a thigh muscle injury he sustained two weeks ago, but was also not fielded in the team’s first Group E match won 2-0 over Denmark.
The Dutch were far from glorious in that game, but very efficient, and van Marwijk also warned that Japan won’t be pushover after their opening 1-0 victory against Cameroon.
Van Marwijk said he expects ‘a very aggressive Japan’ whose players have been together for a long time. The friendly between both teams in September, which the Dutch won 3-0, will not be a reference, according to Van Marwijk.
‘We will not be underestimating them,’ he stressed. ‘Both teams want to win.’
But the coach also said he will not make any adjustments to his game plan.
‘I always concentrate on my own team, and I actually never adjust to anything,’ he said.
Striker Dirk Kuyt agreed that Japan are ‘a very strong team,’ but he confidently added that ‘we’re going to win.’
Van Marwijk did also not want to get carried away into thinking about the title this early.
‘It’s a long path to go,’ he noted. ‘The most important thing is tomorrow’s match.’
