Dutch are robbed of Robben

Jun 8 2008 By Gordon Waddell

WING wonder Arjen Robben has been ruled out of Holland's Euro 2008 opener against Italy tomorrow night.

The Real Madrid star hobbled out of training in Lausanne yesterday after suffering a groin injury.

And it's a bitter blow to boss Marco van Basten after losing Liverpool's Ryan Babel from the left side of his team through injury on the eve of the finals.

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie is also still toiling to shake off a thigh injury and won't make their Group C curtain-raiser either.

Van Basten sighed: "First of all it's so disappointing for Arjen.

However, it's also a pity for the team especially as we lost Ryan, another left winger, last week.

"Together with the medical department Arjen will work hard on his recovery.We hope he can be of value to the team later in the tournament."

Van Basten (far right) doesn't have his troubles to seek in other areas either. Wigan defender Mario Melchiot is also doubtful with a recurring groin injury despite being cleared as fit a day before the squad was finalised.

However, the Holland gaffer is convinced his players can cope.

When the striking legend took over in 2004 he always insisted this tournament was his target rather than the 2006 World Cup, when they exited in the last 16.

The 43-year-old insists they have learned from their mistakes and are ready to qualify from Euro 2008's group of death.

Van Basten said: "Alot of our players are now playing in the Spanish and English leagues.

More of them are playing abroad than two years ago.

"We have made big steps forward since then."