WORLD CUP 2010: Arsenal's Robin van Persie at the double as Holland beat Mexico

27 May 2010 11:56
Robin van Persie was left satisfied with his two-goal return for Holland in their 2-1 friendly win against Mexico on Wednesday night.   [LNB]The 26-year-old striker had not played for the Oranje since rupturing ankle ligaments in a friendly against Italy in November.   [LNB]Van Persie only returned for club side Arsenal late at the end of last season, but his double last night showed he should be fit and firing for the World Cup.   [LNB] On target: Robin van Persie scored twice as Holland beat Mexico 2-1 [LNB]The striker scored his goals during a dominant first-half Dutch display, and while Van Persie was indebted to a pair of defence-splitting assists by midfield duo Rafael van der Vaart and Ibrahim Afellay, he converted both chances with unerring confidence.   [LNB]'The assists of Van der Vaart and Afellay were both amazing,' Van Persie told SBS6. 'It wasn't too much of a problem to find the net after their great passes. This Dutch team really is of very high quality.   [LNB]The future's Orange: Van Persie is mobbed by his Holland team-mates [LNB]'We were quite impressive for the majority of the first half and we have shown what we're capable of. I've seen some very good attacks before the break.  [LNB]'We were unable to keep up our good form after the interval, but that isn't too much of a problem. It was our first exhibition game so we are satisfied. [LNB]'We have trained very hard in the past couple of days and that showed in the second half.'   [LNB]Holland boss Bert van Marwijk was particularly pleased with Van Persie's performance, although he revealed has was forced to substitute the striker after 64 minutes when he felt a slight tightness in his hamstring.  [LNB]'Van Persie was outstanding,'said Van Marwijk, who is due to announce his final 23-man squad to fly to South Africa today.  'In the second half he just felt the hamstring a bit so I took him off immediately.'   [LNB]Van Marwijk was slightly concerned with his side's second-half performance. Mexico threatened to grab a draw when Javier Hernandez pulled a goal back after 74 minutes before Martin Stekelenburg saved well from a long-range Giovanni Dos Santos strike.   [LNB]'You saw after the break the strength of our whole team disappeared, but that is because we have trained so hard,' he said. 'We played very well in the first half and exposed them. In the second half we were outplayed, so that must get better.' [LNB]  LEO'S LONDON: If Arsenal star Fabregas leaves for Barcelona Arsene Wenger will be without a genuine icon for the first timeChamakh can be key to our success, says Arsenal ace Robin van PersieARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail