THE NETHERLANDS v JAPAN:ARJEN ROBBEN is in contention to make his first appearance in the World Cup after coming through a full training session with the Netherlands team for the first time since suffering the hamstring strain that had threatened to rule him out of the competition.

The manager, Bert van Marwijk, must now decide whether to risk using the Bayern Munich player from the start in today’s game against Japan in Durban or, more likely, keep him back as a substitute.

The pitch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium is causing sufficient concern for both teams to be asked by tournament organisers to train elsewhere yesterday, and the difficult surface counts against Robben as he makes his way back from a fortnight of intensive treatment.

“This was his first complete training since we got together and that is something,” Van Marwijk said yesterday.

“Now we have to wait to see how his hamstring reacts in the morning but in normal circumstances he would not play against Japan.”

Both teams won their opening matches in Group E and the Netherlands will be regarded as the overwhelming favourites to progress to the first knockout stage, not least as they defeated Japan 3-0 in a friendly last September.

Van Marwijk, however, was impressed by Japan’s 1-0 defeat of Cameroon on Monday.

“They have been searching for a tactical style that would suit them and they seem to have found it,” he said.

The Dutch players have been among the more outspoken critics of the official World Cup ball but Dirk Kuyt believes it will be easier in Durban.

“We are playing at sea level now and then it reacts normally,” the Liverpool player said. “We have a lot of players in our team who like sushi and we hope to have Japan for dinner.”

Guardian Service