Van Basten calms van der Vaart fears
First Published: May 30, 2006
Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart trains in Hoenderloo, May 29. Netherlands coach Marco van Basten insisted there was nothing to worry about after Van der Vaart missed training with an ankle injury.
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten insisted there was nothing to worry about after attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart missed training with an ankle injury.
The Hamburg player was injured during training on Monday night at the team's camp here, sparking fears the former Ajax man may have aggravated a previous problem.
Van der Vaart had his ankle operated on for the second time in April last year after suffering a fracture.
However, van Basten said Tuesday that the new injury was not serious and had no bearing on the previous fracture.
Van der Vaart had sat out last Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against Cameroon after his coach claimed he was "too tired" to play, however he did train with the rest of the team during the week.
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