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Robben injury sours Netherlands romp |
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A stunning second-half fightback saw the Netherlands run out comfortable winners in their final World Cup warm-up game against Hungary at the Amsterdam ArenA.
The victory came at a cost with Arjen Robben forced from the action with a left hamstring injury, and Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk will be hoping the World Cup injury jinx that has struck so many big-name players this week does not come to include the Bayern Munich winger.
Robben is due to undergo a scan tomorrow, and Van Marwijk was downbeat about the situation after the match.
"I would rather lose this match and have Arjen stay fit,'' Van Marwijk said in quotes reported by www.vi.nl.
"He felt a sharp pain. That does not bode well. But I do not lose hope.''
Robben was on fine form before the injury struck late on, scoring twice after coming on as a substitute at the interval.
Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Mark van Bommel and Eljero Elia were also on target for the Dutch, who fell behind to Balazs Dzudzsak's shock opener for Hungary.
Holland were caught napping for the opener which arrived on six minutes.
Sandor Torghelle's long ball from his own half was collected with ease by Dzsudzsak, who dispatched a powerful shot into the top-left corner of Maarten Stekelenburg's net from the edge of the area.
The hosts were back on level terms after 22 minutes when Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt crossed from the right wing and Arsenal striker Van Persie lashed home.
Hungary looked good value for the draw at the interval with the Oranje offering little in the way of attacking threat, but all that changed in the second period as the hosts hit their stride.
Holland went ahead after 56 minutes when Giovanni Van Bronckhorst picked out Wesley Sneijder and the Inter Milan midfielder fired home from close range.
Feyenoord veteran Van Bronckhorst was again the provider eight minutes later when he crossed from the left and Robben side-footed home from six yards.
Van Bommel made it 4-1 after 71 minutes after being played in by Robben while Elia added a fifth from the left side of the area four minutes later as Van Bommel turned provider.
Robben completed the scoring with a stunning sixth from the edge of area 12 minutes from time but the day would end on a sour note for the former Chelsea playmaker, who faces an anxious wait to discover whether his World Cup dream remains intact.
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