Dutch winger Arjen Robben has been warned by team mate Robin van Persie that he cannot win the World Cup on his own despite his match-winning performance against Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday.
Robben stretched the Serb defence to breaking point in the first half of the Netherlands' 1-0 Group C victory, earning rave reviews for his performance.
He scored the only goal after 18 minutes, controlling a beautifully weighted through ball from van Persie and slotting home past Serb keeper Dragoslav Jevric.
But van Persie, who was left largely in the role of spectator after seeing almost none of the ball on the right wing, had a word of caution for Robben.
"Together we hope to play six matches [in the World Cup] and that he can't do all by himself," he told the Dutch ANP news agency.
"He must take into account his team mates. Sometimes he makes decisions for himself and not the team," van Persie said.
Coach Marco van Basten moved swiftly to recognize that the Dutch approach had been unbalanced and said he would correct it.
"Our game was too concentrated on the left-hand side because Arjen was in form, but that was to the detriment of van Persie on the right wing. This imbalance must be addressed," van Basten said.
Robben, 22, insisted that he always put the team above any personal glory, whether playing for his club Chelsea or his country.
While Robben shone, his partner in attack Ruud van Nistelrooy had a subdued match and was substituted after 69 minutes.
"Ruud did not play well and that's why he was taken off," van Basten said, although he said he would keep faith with the Manchester United striker for Friday's clash with Ivory Coast in Stuttgart.
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