Ron Vlaar needs "a little miracle"

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Things are not looking good for the chances of Ron Vlaar to go to the World Cup in South Africa.

The defender injured his hamstring yesterday during training, and although the medical staff of the Dutch team couldn't tell from an an echo that was made in the hotel just how serious the injury was, the Feyenoord-player himself felt it was over and out.

Vlaar knows that he couldn't have picked a worse moment to get injured, just when bondscoach Bert van Marwijk is about to drop four more players from the preliminary squad (tomorrow). "This doesn't help," Vlaar said, about him, André Ooijer and Khalid Boulahrouz fighting for one spot in the central defense. "But we'll see," the 23-year-old added.

For now Vlaar will fly with the team to Germany for the friendly against Mexico, Wednesday night. "But there's not much chance that I can actually play. There's some fluid in my hamstring and that indicates that there is damage."

"I'm afraid it's the same injury I suffered a month ago and that made me miss to league games with Feyenoord.".

Still, Vlaar isn't sure whether he would have come to South-Africa without the injury. "It took me a while to find my way and at first I was really straining my self. But with every training session things went a little better. That is why this so disappointing. Once you're this close you want to go. After my serious knee injury I never dreamt I would have such a terrific season and get this far with the Dutch team. I'm still hoping for a miracle though."