Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has said he is eager to play for the Netherlands in Tuesday's friendly against Germany in Hamburg, despite wearing a mask to protect his broken nose.
With 21 goals in 19 games for Bundesliga side Schalke 04 this season, the 28-year-old suffered a broken nose ten days ago playing for his German club in a Europa League match, but says he is fit to play for the Oranje.
"I have got used to playing with the mask since Wednesday, I am not getting any headaches and the swelling around the eyes has gone down," Huntelaar told German paper die Welt on Sunday, having made 48 appearances for the Dutch.
"We are being cautious, but games against Germany are always special."
Holland were held to a goalless draw by Switzerland in Amsterdam on Friday and with Arsenal striker Robin van Persie being rested for the match in Hamburg, Huntelaar is in Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk's thoughts.
"Things look different for this match, but it's only been two weeks since he broke his nose," said Van Marwijk, who guided the Dutch to last year's World Cup final.
There is plenty of history between the Dutch and Germans with Germany claiming 13 wins, Holland taking 10 victories with 14 draws since the first encounter in 1910.
The most explosive clash between the two nations was in Milan at the 1990 World Cup when Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a bad-tempered quarter-final.
Both Germany's Rudi Voeller and Holland's Frank Rijkaard were sent off early in the match after the Dutchman infamously spitting at the German midfielder.
"Games against Germany have always had a high priority for me," said former Bayern Munich captain and current Dutch skipper Mark van Bommel.
"I grew up not far away from the German border and I know all about the historical encounters.
"There are no such thing as friendly games any more, especially against Germany.
"There are a lot of emotions involved."
As well as Van Persie, Van Marwijk will also be without midfielder Rafael van der Vaart in Hamburg.
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder suffered a thigh injury against the Swiss and is back in London.
The Dutch were booed by their own fans in Amsterdam against the Swiss, which Van Marwijk has said was unjustified, and the Oranje are eager to get a victory in Hamburg as a marker for next June's Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine.
Source: AFP
