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Three Dutch injured in World Cup warm-up game
5/6/2006 10:31

Three Dutch players were injured in a 1-1 draw with Australia in a World Cup warm-up game in Dutch port city Rotterdam on Sunday.

Philip Cocu was the first Dutch player to limp off 10 minutes before the break. Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni van Bronckhorst also joined the injury list in the second half.

The Netherlands, who started with their first-choice team, opened the scoring after nine minutes when Andre Ooijer's shot wasblocked by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and Ruud van Nistelrooy netted the rebound.

The hosts, with wingers Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie in good form, played well but wasted several scoring chances.

Van Bronckhorst was hurt by a challenge from Scott Chipperfield, who was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

Australia's Tim Cahill equalized from close range nine minutes into the second half.

The Netherlands start their World Cup campaign against Serbia and Montenegro in Leipzig next Sunday.

Australia's opening game is against Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12.



 Xinhua news