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Robben's physio says he's ready to play

NEWS ROUND-UP: ARJEN ROBBEN is fit enough to play against Denmark in the Netherlands’ World Cup opener, according to the physiotherapist…

Fri Jun 11 2010 - 01:00

NEWS ROUND-UP:ARJEN ROBBEN is fit enough to play against Denmark in the Netherlands' World Cup opener, according to the physiotherapist treating him.

The Bayern Munich winger suffered a hamstring injury in a pre-tournament friendly and Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has already said he will not be considered for Monday’s match in Johannesburg.

But Dick van Toorn told German newspaper TZ Robben is ready to go. “I think that he can play,” he said. “If they do not play him for tactical reasons, okay, but you cannot say he would not be fit.”

The 26-year-old remained behind when the rest of the squad left for South Africa to receive intensive treatment from the 77-year-old Van Toorn.

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Van Toorn is the physio Robben requested, despite reservations from the Dutch camp.

Three members of Greece’s World Cup squad had cash stolen from their hotel rooms in the northern suburbs of Durban, a team official said yesterday.

Team spokesman Michael Tsapidis said the players were not upset by the theft at the Beverly Hills Hotel and that they were “extremely satisfied” with the way the hotel had responded to the incident. “In our opinion this is not such a big deal. This incident is something that could happen anywhere in the world,” he said.

Crime was considered one of the major problems facing World Cup organisers and the South African government has made serious investment to try to prevent it blighting soccers showpiece event.

Sulley Muntari has his hopes for Ghana and is eyeing a place in the final four. Ghana meet Serbia tomorrow, Australia (June 19th) and Germany (June 23rd) in Group D and Inter Milan midfielder Muntari believes the Black Stars can better their last-16 finish of four years ago in Germany on their World Cup finals debut.

“After what we did in 2006, expectations are sky high,” Muntari, who has been struggling with a left thigh injury, said on Inter Milan’s official website, www.inter.it.

“We want to get out of our group and get to the semi-finals or even further.

“Germany are the group favourites and so it will doubtless come down to Serbia – we don’t know quite what to expect against them, but we know they are a good team. Our goal is to produce good football.”