LONDON (AFP) - Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt said he was "disappointed" by the lack of respect Italy showed during last weekend's friendly which saw fellow Netherlands forward Robin van Persie sustain an injury.
The Arsenal striker was stretchered off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into Saturday's goalless draw in Pescara and could be out of action for up to six weeks.
Van Persie absolves Chiellini of blame but Kuyt said the challenge on the striker was symptomatic of Italy's over-physical approach to what was only a friendly international.
"I was very disappointed (by Italy)," Kuyt told Sky Sports.
"We played a friendly against a big country and if you see the way they kicked us it's very sad, very sad for the Dutch team and also very sad for Robin because he was in great form," the Liverpool forward added.
"I think it was a bad tackle. Sometimes you think about this when you play a friendly for your country there should be more respect for each other and hopefully it won't happen in the future."
Van Persie has scored eight goals this season.
LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal's Premier League title hopes suffered a setback on Sunday after star striker Robin van Persie damaged ankle ligaments during the Netherlands' 0-0 friendly draw with Italy.
The 26-year-old was stretched off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into Saturday's game at Pescara and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"Van Persie has a partially ruptured ligament," a Dutch Football Association (KNVB) official told the BBC on Sunday.
"It's a serious injury. We don't know how long it will take him to recover from it.
"It's impossible to put an exact time-frame on it because some players heal more quickly than others. It's not a short-term injury."
Earlier, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said he believed the player had torn ligaments.
"It's a hard blow for him because he was in the form of his life," said van Marwijk.
THE HAGUE (AFP) - Robin van Persie could be sidelined for weeks after injuring his ankle during the Netherlands' 0-0 draw with Italy this weekend, the Dutch press reported on Sunday citing sources close to the player.
The Arsenal striker was stretched off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into the game at Pescara.
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk believes the player has torn ligaments, which the ANP news agency estimated could sideline the player for weeks or even months.
"It's a hard blow for him because he was in the form of his life," said van Marwijk.
PESCARA, Italy (AFP) - World Cup-bound Italy and Holland played out a goalless draw in a friendly of few clear-cut chances here on Saturday.
The world champions dominated possession and had a late effort from Giampaolo Pazzini ruled out, but goalkeepers Maarten Stekelenburg and Gianluigi Buffon had precious little to do in a match that will not live long in the memory.
"It wasn't a great spectacle but I'm happy with the general performance," said Italy coach Marcello Lippi.
"We got better after the break, though I also think our formation looked solid in the first half as well. The thing I can't understand was how many misplaced passes we made in the first half.
"But the good thing was we didn't give them a sniff."
Lippi handed Livorno midfielder Antonio Candreva his first cap and included Genoa winger Rafaelle Palladino in an otherwise experienced line-up featuring the backbone of the World Cup-winning side.
"The young ones did fine," he added. "Candreva, Palladino and (Davide) Biondini took a while to settle but came good."
Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk praised his defence.
"We were well-organised at the back against a difficult opponent," he said.
"We created chances early on but just lacked creativity in the final third."
Despite injuries to Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben, the Netherlands, third in the FIFA world rankings - one above Italy, also put out a strong 11 with coach Van Marwijk bringing back Mark van Bommel after missing the last four games through injury.
With both sides packing the midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, the opening 20 minutes were conspicuously short on incident with Robin van Persie's exit on a stretcher after a firm but fair challenge from Giorgio Chiellini and a pitch-invader sporting a shirt emblazoned with the words ?(Antonio) Cassano for the National team' the main highlights.
On 20 minutes, Dirk Kuyt almost broke the deadlock with the first strike in anger. The Liverpool man picked up a one-two with Eljero Elia before firing inches wide from the edge of the box.
The fifty-fifties continued to be fully committed in a competitive friendly seven months ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
Shortly after Palladino played his own one-two before hitting a clean 25-yard drive that Maarten Stekelenburg did well to hold.
It was to be the start of an active period for the Juventus-owned player. Ten minutes later, he almost put through his own net, backflicking a Rafael van der Vaart free kick but Gianluigi Buffon was alert to the danger and saved above his head.
On 42 minutes, he had the best chance of the half. Latching on to an Andrea Pirlo corner, Palladino, six yards out, decided to flick the ball with his right foot instead of his left and the ball ballooned over the bar.
The second period began just as the first with the Azzurri bossing the ball but creating very little. Lippi threw Giuseppe Rossi into the fray and the Villarreal forward's intelligent runs began to rattle the Dutch defence.
On 82 minutes Italy finally found the net.
Substitute Giampaolo Pazzini, falling under a challenge inside the six-yard box, palmed the ball across the line after Fabio Cannavaro had headed back across goal a Pirlo cross.
But after prolonged Dutch protests, the referee awarded a free kick with the game seemingly destined to end scoreless.
On Wednesday, Italy will host Sweden, while Holland entertain Paraguay.
Wesley Sneijder joined Inter Milan about two and a half months ago and has been loving every minute since his arrival in Italy. The 25-year-old midfielder is happy at his new club and is impressed with Jose Mourinho's leadership. "I think it's cool he calls himself 'the special one'."
"He's really one of us," Sneijder said about the former Chelsea coach. "If we travel by plane, he always sits at the back. He has a really strong bond with the players. And not only with me but also with the young players who just joined the squad from the academy."
The Dutch playmaker is very happy at the club that brought him in from Real Madrid this summer. He admits he can't believe he took so long to get to Italy.
"I love everything about Italy and to play here is perfect. I have never been as happy as in Milan, I never had these feelings. What do I miss from Madrid? Absolutely nothing.
"I never regret leaving Madrid," said Sneijder, who is nothing but praise for his new club.
"Inter are more of a club, more teamwork, people are friendly and this helps you solve even small problems. In Milan, it's all good, better than what I expected. And when I say everything I mean everything: teammates, opponents, and the atmosphere.
"And the city, which I like very much. Serie A in decline? No.. I like playing in Italy. Each opponent is tough and it is exciting."
Sneijder faces Italy on Saturday for a friendly match with the Netherlands. Mourinho gave him some advice before he left Inter to join the Dutch national team.
"He said: 'Be careful lad, there are a lot of Juventus players on the Italy squad. Protect yourself against attacks.'" That's typical Mourinho, according to Sneijder.
"His emotions, his temper. I'm a lot like him. As a coach I would be a bit like him, I think. Calling yourself 'the special one'. Why not? I think that's cool."
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