Arjen Robben became the latest World Cup injury scare despite the Netherlands crushing Hungary 6-1 on Saturday, while hosts South Africa boosted their hopes with a 1-0 warm-up victory over Denmark.
Robben limped off with a left hamstring injury after scoring twice in an impressive Dutch display in Amsterdam, with teammates fearing he could be the latest big star to be ruled out of the World Cup.
After scoring twice in the Dutch triumph in Amsterdam, Robben went down injured trying some fancy footwork. After hobbling off the field he went to hospital for a scan.
PHOTO: AFP
“He felt a sharp pain, that can’t be good,” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said. “Treatment for these injuries has improved hugely, so I’m not giving up hope yet.”
England defender Rio Ferdinand and Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel have been ruled out with knee injuries and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba has had surgery on a broken arm to try and keep him at the World Cup. The star-studded casualty list also includes England’s David Beckham, Germany’s Michael Ballack and Ghana’s Michael Essien.
After Balazs Dzsudzsak gave non-qualifiers Hungary a sixth-minute lead in Amsterdam, the Dutch turned on the sort of attacking swagger they are renowned for.
Robin van Persie equalized in the 22nd minute and Eljero Elia scored a memorable solo goal for the fifth. Wesley Sneijder and Mark van Bommel also hit the target.
The Dutch, who also beat Ghana 4-1 on Tuesday last week, appear to be building up to top form ahead of World Cup games against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon in Group E.
The South Africans are also improving ahead of the World Cup opener against Mexico at Soccer City on Friday. Katlego Mphela scored a 75th-minute winner in a 1-0 victory at home to Denmark at Atteridgeville. The hosts also face former World Cup winners France and Uruguay in Group A.
World Cup holders Italy came from behind to draw 1-1 with Switzerland in Geneva.
Gokhan Inler gave the Swiss a 10th-minute lead, but Fabio Quagliarella equalized four minutes later for an Italian side that begins its defense against Paraguay next Monday. Switzerland begin in Group H against tournament favorites Spain on June 16.
Two goals by Edson Buddle in only his third game for the national team helped the US to a 3-1 victory over Australia in the South African town of Roodeport.
Tim Cahill equalized for the Australians, before Buddle and Herculez Gomez made sure of victory for the US, who meet England in their first game in Group C on Saturday in Rustenburg.
At the finals, the US and England will face Slovenia and an Algeria side who ended a run of four losses with a 1-0 warm-up victory over the United Arab Emirates with a second-half penalty by Karim Ziani.
The Australians face Germany, Ghana and Serbia in Group D, one of the toughest at the finals.
In a seven-goal thriller in Belgrade, Serbia beat Cameroon 4-3 after twice falling behind to goals by Pierre Webo.
There were six goals before halftime, with the Serbs scoring through Milos Krasic, Dejan Stankovic, Nenad Milijas and Marko Pantelic. Cameroon’s Eric Choupo-Moting scored the only goal of the second half, but the Serbs held on to win.
Ghana’s World Cup hopes have been hit by the absence of midfield star Essien, who has been ruled out with a knee injury, but the team warmed up for the competition with a 1-0 victory over Latvia at Milton Keynes, England, substitute Quincy Owusu-Abeyie scoring the winner with a minute to go.
Slovakia prepared for their Group F games against New Zealand, Paraguay and World Cup holders Italy by beating non-qualifiers Costa Rica 3-0 in Bratislava. A 16th-minute own-goal by Douglas Sequeira put the Slovaks on the way, Robert Vittek added a second just after halftime and Stanislav Sestak scored the third from the penalty spot.
However, Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel picked up an ankle injury in the early stages and went to hospital for a scan. He will still travel to South Africa.
Honduras went down 3-0 to non-qualifiers Romania after goals by Daniel Niculae, Gheorghe Florescu and Mirel Radoi. More worrying was losing midfielder Wilson Palacios to a shin injury which required a hospital trip for tests.
Honduras open their World Cup campaign against Chile on June 16 and also play Switzerland and Spain in Group H.
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