Van Persie and Melchiot give Dutch cause for concern (SN)

Dutch duo Robin van Persie and experienced defender Mario Melchiot are giving The Netherlands cause for concern just a week before they have to name their squad for Euro 2008 as both could only train lightly on Wednesday.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten – a Euro winner in 1988 – has said that he will not take anyone to the finals which begin on June 7, and is being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland, who would not be fit for the first match which is on June 9 against world champions Italy in Berne.

Van Persie is recovering from a thigh problem, the latest of a series of injuries that afflicted him during the season with Arsenal, but insists that he is feeling no pain and he would be ready for the first match, though, he added he didn't know whether he would be in top form.

Like on the first day of this training camp van Persie did some light running along with Melchiot, but apart from the rest of the squad.

Melchiot, who plays for Premiership side Wigan having had spells with Chelsea and Birmingham City, is complaining of an ankle ligament problem and said he preferred to take it easy during training.

The Dutch are in the Group of Death at the finals for aside from Italy they have also got 2006 World Cup finalists France and dark horses Romania.