(PA) Monday 4 June 2012
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Netherlands defender Joris Mathijsen is confident he will be fit for his country's UEFA EURO 2012 opener against Denmark on Saturday.
The Malaga player suffered a hamstring injury in a friendly against Bulgaria on 26 May, but is adamant it will not affect his participation in the tournament and hit out at those who have labelled him injury-prone after his season was disrupted by thigh and back problems.
The 32-year-old told De Telegraaf: "It is typically Dutch, I think, that I suddenly seem to be labelled injury-prone. Apparently my age, in combination with two injuries, is a reason to doubt my fitness even though I have never had a long-term injury in my entire career.
"The first test in the dressing room seemed to indicate that there was no evidence of a tear, only a strain, and the MRI scan happily confirmed that. The way I feel now, I will be fine."
Marwijk backs RVP, Huntelaar
Much of the attention in Holland's build-up to the tournament has focused on the other end of the pitch, with the Oranje scoring freely in their qualifying campaign and also hitting six past Northern Ireland on Saturday. Arsenal's Robin van Persie scored twice in that game but faces competition for the central striking berth from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Schalke, who was prolific in qualifying.
The pair were the top scorers in the Premier League and Bundesliga respectively last season, and Van Marwijk has not ruled out the possibility of unleashing them in tandem this summer.
"Of course they can play together," he said. "Robin is an elusive striker, but he has proved that he can also be a killer in the penalty area. Klaas-Jan is a goalscorer and he is getting better with every match in the national team."
Van Persie's second goal at the weekend came from the penalty spot, though many in the Amsterdam ArenA crowd were calling for Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben to be given the chance to exorcise his UEFA Champions League final demons. Robben missed from the spot in extra time against Chelsea.
But Van Marwijk insisted: "I do not know if that would have worked. I do not believe in such actions. I don't think it would have helped Robben so much if had stepped up against Northern Ireland."
The Malaga player suffered a hamstring injury in a friendly against Bulgaria on 26 May, but is adamant it will not affect his participation in the tournament and hit out at those who have labelled him injury-prone after his season was disrupted by thigh and back problems.
The 32-year-old told De Telegraaf: "It is typically Dutch, I think, that I suddenly seem to be labelled injury-prone. Apparently my age, in combination with two injuries, is a reason to doubt my fitness even though I have never had a long-term injury in my entire career.
"The first test in the dressing room seemed to indicate that there was no evidence of a tear, only a strain, and the MRI scan happily confirmed that. The way I feel now, I will be fine."
Marwijk backs RVP, Huntelaar
Much of the attention in Holland's build-up to the tournament has focused on the other end of the pitch, with the Oranje scoring freely in their qualifying campaign and also hitting six past Northern Ireland on Saturday. Arsenal's Robin van Persie scored twice in that game but faces competition for the central striking berth from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Schalke, who was prolific in qualifying.
The pair were the top scorers in the Premier League and Bundesliga respectively last season, and Van Marwijk has not ruled out the possibility of unleashing them in tandem this summer.
"Of course they can play together," he said. "Robin is an elusive striker, but he has proved that he can also be a killer in the penalty area. Klaas-Jan is a goalscorer and he is getting better with every match in the national team."
Van Persie's second goal at the weekend came from the penalty spot, though many in the Amsterdam ArenA crowd were calling for Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben to be given the chance to exorcise his UEFA Champions League final demons. Robben missed from the spot in extra time against Chelsea.
But Van Marwijk insisted: "I do not know if that would have worked. I do not believe in such actions. I don't think it would have helped Robben so much if had stepped up against Northern Ireland."
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