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By Theo Ruizenaar
FREIBURG, Germany, June 8 - Netherlands coach
Marco van Basten says all his injured players will be fit for
their World Cup opener with Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday.
Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Giovanni van
Bronckhorst have all been struggling with ankle injuries while
Philip Cocu has had a thigh problem.
But after a public training session on Thursday, attended by
about 13,000 spectators, Van Basten said Sneijder and Cocu, who
both trained separately, would make it in time.
Van der Vaart and Van Bronckhorst had already joined in the
first session in the Dreisam Stadium in Freiburg on Wednesday.
"Van der Vaart had his second training session with the
squad and did fine, while Sneijder made good progress and will
not be a problem for Sunday," Van Basten told a news conference.
"Tomorrow (Friday) I will take a decision about the two
players on the standby list."
Van Basten put midfielders Nigel de Jong and Stijn Schaars
on standby on Tuesday but it is looking less likely that either
will be added to the 23-man squad that starts the campaign.
GOOD PREPARATION
Van Basten underlined the importance of good preparation for
the Group C match against Serbia & Montenegro in Leipzig.
The Balkan side finished top of their World Cup qualifying
group above Spain having conceded only one goal.
"They are good opponents, who proved their strength during
their qualification and will be tough to beat," he added.
"I've made up my mind already about the team that will start
on Sunday and only (fresh) injuries might force me to make
adjustments."
"We will continue the way we started our warm-up (games).
That will also be the team you can expect."
Van Basten uses a 4-3-3 formation with Arjen Robben on the
left and Robin van Persie likely to play on the right with the
wingers providing ammunition for striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Sneijder is expected to fill the central role in midfield
with Cocu on the left side and Mark van Bommel on the right. Van
Bronckhorst will play as an attacking left back.
The Dutch start their third major tournament on German soil
knowing that they played well on the previous two occasions.
In 1974 'total football' got them to the final and 14 years
later they lifted the European Championship trophy.
Van Basten believes the familiar circumstances in Germany
might form the base for success.
"We can live almost the same life we are used to (in the
Netherlands)," he said. "The food and environment are the same
and it just feels like home."
Netherlands will also meet Ivory Coast and Argentina as they
bid to qualify from a tough Group C.