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Robben pulls out of Dutch squad

March 17, 2016

Robben was rested against Werder Bremen on Saturday but picked up a thigh strain ahead of the midweek game against Juventus. He will now miss Holland's upcoming matches against France and England.

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WM 2014 Gruppe B 1. Spieltag Spanien Niederlande
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Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has pulled out of Holland's upcoming international friendlies with France and England at the end of March after picking up a thigh injury.

The 32-year-old attacker missed Saturday's 5-0 win over Werder Bremen with the intention of being rested ahead of the club's mid-week Champions League test, only to then pick up a thigh strain that ruled him out of Wednesday night's fixture against Juventus.

As a result the Dutch international has now pulled himself out of both international games so he can "concentrate fully on his recovery," as cited in a statement on the Dutch FA website.

Holland will face France in Amsterdam on March 25 before travelling to face England at Wembley Stadium on March 29.

Netherlands coach Danny Blind will be forced to pick a replacement for Robben when he announces his final squad list on Friday, having named the Bayern winger in his initial 28-man squad. The Bayern player has won 88 caps for his country, scoring 30 goals since making his debut in April 2003.

sb/rd (AP)