By Nicholas Rigillo Jun 18, 2006, 18:14 GMT
Freiburg - Netherlands coach Marco van Basten is likely to rest some of his cautioned players in Wednesday's match against Argentina, a game that will decide which of the two sides will top the so-called 'Group of Death'.
'I don't want to take any risks with yellow cards,' van Basten told reporters in Freiburg Sunday.
A total of six Dutch players have been booked during Holland's first two games against Serbia and Montenegro and the Ivory Coast.
They include twice man of the match winner Arjen Robben and three of regular defenders: Joris Mathijsen, Johnny Heitinga and Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The other two cautioned players are defender Khalid Bouhlarouz and midfielder Mark van Bommel.
Argentina and Holland are both through to the next round and are level on 6 points in Group C after winning their first two games. But the South Americans are ahead on goal difference and only need a draw on Wednesday to finish on top.
Though van Basten had previously said he wanted to win the group, he conceded Sunday that victory against Argentina was not essential, saying: 'You don't win a cup if you get first or second (place in the group).'
Asked to comment on Argentina, Van Basten said he was looking forward to Wednesday's match in Frankfurt.
'We have a lot of respect for Argentina. It's a very strong side and I consider it a big favourite to win the World Cup. It's going to be a big test for our young side,' he said.
Bookings aside, the Dutch coach also has injury concerns as Phillip Cocu and Heitinga are both suffering from minor injuries and could end up being sidelined on Wednesday.
Cocu has a sore ankle while Heitinga is suffering from a hamstring. Doctors say neither injuries are serious.
The two nevertheless skipped Sunday's training session, in which the rest of their team-mates practised their headers in five-a-side 'football-volley' matches.
Van Basten may be hoping that his tall players will overcome Argentina's relatively short defenders in the air in order to get goals.
Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is among the reserve players tipped to play his first World Cup match from the start in Frankfurt.
'It would be a great game to play, especially as both teams are already through to the next round,' the SV Hamburg midfielder said.
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