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Van Persie says injury not serious

Robin van Persie suffered a groin injury in the Netherlands' friendly victory over Wales, but both he and manager Louis van Gaal insisted the problem was not serious.

Van Persie sparked fresh fears over his fitness ahead of the World Cup when he was withdrawn at halftime in the Dutch side's 2-0 victory at the Amsterdam Arena.

The Manchester United striker had been building his fitness up after a six-week lay-off towards the end of the domestic season with a knee injury.

But national boss Van Gaal and the player both insisted the substitution was precautionary.

"He has a little injury and I think it is better that you don't risk a bigger injury when he plays the second half, Van Gaal said. "I think he made the right decision. It is not an important match. You don't have to risk it.

"His action to give the assist for the first goal was fantastic."

Asked if Van Persie should be fit for the Netherlands' World Cup opener against Spain on June 13, Van Gaal said: "I hope so, and I think it is so."

Van Persie himself said: "I wouldn't call it an injury, I came off as a precaution. It built up during the came so decided it was sensible to come off."

The match was the Netherlands' last before flying to Brazil for the World Cup, and Van Gaal felt Wales had given his men a good test.

Holland won comfortably enough with goals from Arjen Robben and Jeremain Lens but Wales did frustrate them for large spells.

Much had been made of the absence of star Welsh names such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, but Chris Coleman's under-strength side did give a good account of themselves.

"I had expected that they would play with 10 men behind the ball. It is always difficult to score then, and they did it very well, Van Gaal said. "When they had the ball they made the pitch very big so we could not press the ball. That is why it was good for us we played this match."

The other main injury concern for the Dutch surrounds Swansea midfielder Jonathan de Guzman, who missed the game with a hamstring problem.

"He also has a little injury. Today he was scanned. It was not so heavy an injury so I take him with me to Brazil, but maybe he cannot play the first match," Van Gaal said.