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Dutch lose midfielder
02/06/2006: Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has said Rafael van der Vaart is unlikely to face Australia in Sunday's final warm-up game.
The 23-year-old picked up an ankle injury playing for his club side Hamburg during the season and underwent surgery to try and correct the problem.
Hopes were high that the midfielder would be able to play a full part in Holland's World Cup campaign but he missed Saturday's 1-0 win over Cameroon before picking up another slight knock in training.
However medical bulletins have been positive and it is thought that the talented schemer will be able to take his place in the Dutch side when they face Serbia & Montenegro on June 11.
Following the Dutch's 2-1 win over Mexico on Thursday, van Basten revealed that van der Vaart will probably sit out the clash with the Socceroos and will have to work hard in training to prove his fitness.
"Rafael is doing fine right now but it wouldn't be wise to use him on Sunday," he said. "He is a player with specific qualities and will have to earn his spot in the team during the training sessions."
Holland struck twice early in the second half to offset Jared Borgetti's opening goal and beat Mexico 2-1 in a World Cup friendly in Eindhoven.
Mexico took the lead on 19 minutes when striker Borgetti headed home a Mexican corner.
However, John Heitinga equalized ten minutes into the second half and Ryan Babel sealed the win just four minutes later.
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