van Persie given time to heal

Marco van Basten is to give Robin van Persie some time to recover from a thigh injury before naming the player in his 23-man squad for the Euro 2008 tournament for the Netherlands.

"It's important to take fit players to the tournament," said the 43-year-old coach.

"It's easier to work together with guys like that than with guys who injure easily. Our basic rule is that everyone that joins our squad has to be able to start in the first match against Italy.

"Suppose Van Persie remains doubtful... We might say 'he can start in the second match'. He is a special player. With a player like him, things are different."