Sneijder doubtful for Scotland clash

Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder is a doubt for his side’s World Cup qualifying match in Scotland on Wednesday after picking up an ankle injury in the 3-0 friendly win over Japan at the weekend.

The 25-year-old Inter Milan new boy was taken to hospital for tests and although the injury is not believed to be as serious as first feared, his chances of playing at Hampden remain in the balance.

Assistant coach Frank de Boer said: “We don’t know (if he’ll be fit to play), so we’ll have to wait.”

The Netherlands have already qualified as Group Nine winners. Scotland require just a point to make sure of second place but need a win to boost their chances of securing a spot in the play-offs as one of the eight best runners-up from the nine European qualifying groups.

Despite having already sealed their passage to South Africa, the Netherlands remain committed to putting on a good performance against George Burley’s Scots.

“We try to see every game as a very important game, and also this one,” said De Boer.

The visitors are gunning for their eighth straight win in the qualifying campaign, but De Boer admitted that he hopes Wednesday’s opponents will make it through to the play-offs.

“I’m glad for Scotland that they still have a chance,” he said.

“We’re not going to help them but if I could choose, I hope Scotland go through to the play-offs.”

Celtic defender Glenn Loovens, meanwhile, said he was looking forward to coming up against his club team-mates Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell.

“It’s strange but nice as well,” said the former Cardiff City man.

“It gives something extra to the game. They’ve been asking us to slow down a bit but it’s not going to happen.”