Robben ready to rock Brazil

01 July 2010 20:20

Holland will have Arjen Robben available once again when they face Brazil for a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Robben has recovered from a hamstring injury and impressed when making his first start of the tournament in Monday's 2-1 win over Slovakia.

Brazil will definitely be without Elano (ankle) and Ramires (suspension), while Felipe Melo and Julio Baptista are both rated doubtful.

Former Brazil defender Cafu believes his countrymen will be in for a far from easy ride against a Dutch side that have won all four of their matches.

"It's going to be a difficult game," said the two-time World Cup winner.

"We know we have some problems with injuries and this will be a challenge for the coach Dunga. But I'm sure he will make the right choices in getting the players set up correctly. I hope that Brazil can go as far as possible."

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has warned Brazil that Holland are ready to break their World Cup stranglehold over them.

The Dutch have twice in recent times suffered heartbreaking exits at the hands of the five-times winners, going out at the quarter-final stage in 1994 and then in the semis four years later after a penalty shoot-out.

But there is a confidence this time around they can get past Dunga's men and stake their own claim on a trophy they have never won despite several near misses.

Van Bronckhorst said: "Obviously, the games in the past haven't gone our way, but we want to win the World Cup, and that means we have to beat Brazil. It's a big game, but we are confident and we will go out on to the pitch to win."

Source: PA