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 next Saturday and Cameroon in Cape Town five days later.
Van Marwijk said Robben really had only one full workout, and he was going to “take it easy” with him.
Robben suffered the injury in a warm-up game against Hungary in Amsterdam.
Drogba remains hopeful
SHARPEVILLE, South Africa — Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba missed a training session with his teammates to receive further treatment on his broken right arm.
A spokesman said the striker missed practice to visit team doctors.
Drogba is hoping to be fit for Ivory Coast’s opening match against Portugal in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday after breaking the arm in an exhibition match against Japan on June 4.
Gattuso to call it quits
IRENE, South Africa — Combative Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso said he will retire from the national team after the tournament.
Speaking two days before the Azzurri’s opener against Paraguay, the 32-year-old Gatttuso said that at his age it’s “only fair to cede space to players with more gas in their tanks.”
Footnotes.
World Cup and city officials in Johannesburg met to improve transportation for matches at Soccer City after traffic congestion caused some fans to miss the opening match.
• A 42-year-old British fan who allegedly has a history of inciting racially motivated violence at sporting events has been detained and will be deported, police said.
The Associated Press
