Van Persie faces 90-minute struggle

Robin van Persie said yesterday he could struggle to last a full 90 minutes when the Netherlands open their Euro 2008 campaign in Group C.

Van Persie, plagued by injury last season at club level with Arsenal, joined the squad training session after working alone on his fitness since the beginning of their tournament preparations over two weeks ago.

"I can say right now that I am ready for it, but it might be tough to play the full 90 minutes," Van Persie told reporters at Lausanne's Olympique de la Pontaise Stadium.

"Maybe I can be important for the team in some role, but that is for the coach to decide.

"But if I was in charge I would put myself in the starting team in nine out of 10 matches."

Van Persie, an Arsenal forward who is used in the Dutch squad as one of three creative midfielders, added: "It felt good today although I felt tired at the end.

"But that seems logical as this is so different compared to the previous two weeks. Then everything was in control and now I had to do what the training demands."

Marco van Basten has no doubts about Van Persie's prospects, saying: "I believe he is the kind of player who can quickly find his rhythm.

"He will reach a good level in the short term."

Van Persie played only 15 Premier League matches last season and has suffered 18 months of injury problems that starting with a broken metatarsal (bone in the foot) in January 2007.

Netherlands kick off their campaign on Monday in Berne against world champions Italy in a group that also features France and Romania.

Van Basten gave no clue as to whether he would play Van Persie against the Italians.

The coach also denied that a tactical switch in a friendly on Sunday to use one holding midfielder, Nigel de Jong, and Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben as conventional wingers would be repeated during the tournament.