Arjen Robben is set to return from injury in time to feature for the Netherlands against France on Friday.

The Real Madrid winger missed Monday’s 3-0 opening Group C win over Italy with a groin injury picked up in training, but coach Marco van Basten believes he will be available for the France game.

However, Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is a major doubt with a thigh problem.

“Robben came through the whole of training with the squad today (Thursday) and is fit for the France match,” said Van Basten. “Robben was fit before the tournament, then was out for a few days but recovered fast, and can immediately start again.

“It is different to the Van Persie situation, he was injured before the tournament.”

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten is still unsure when Arjen Robben will be fit to play at Euro 2008.

The Dutch winger missed the team’s opening Group C match, a 3-0 victory over world champions Italy in Berne on Monday, after injuring his groin in training.

“It looks like he will need less time to recover than the seven to 10 days I said previously but I cannot say when he will play,” Van Basten told reporters on Wednesday.

The match against France in Berne on Friday will come too soon for Robben but he could be back for the final group game against Romania at the same venue four days later.

Defender Mario Melchiot, who has been sidelined by a pelvic problem, continues to train alone while striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar missed Wednesday’s session with a minor calf injury.

Van Basten said he would probably adjust his tactics against Les Bleus.

“When France are in possession of the ball our positional play will have to change,” said the coach. “But that is only a matter of changing some minor aspects.

“Our good start did not only give us a good feeling it also increased the respect for us from our upcoming opponents.”

The Dutch top the group with three points, two more than France and Romania.

Arjen Robben is set to miss the Netherlands’ UEFA EURO 2008™ Group C opener against Italy on Monday after picking up a groin injury.

‘Huge blow’
The KNVB announced that the 24-year-old Real Madrid CF winger sustained the problem in a closed training session this morning at the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne. “In the first place, this is obviously a huge setback for Arjen himself,” said Netherlands coach Marco van Basten. “But also for the team this is a huge blow, as we have already lost Ryan Babel in that position. Together with the medical staff, Arjen will work very hard on his recovery and we really hope he can rejoin the team very quickly.”

Great expectations
Although his most-recent competitive match for the Oranje came last October, in a UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Slovenia, Robben’s form in the build-up to the finals had been highly promising. He produced an outstanding display in his country’s 1-1 draw with Denmark on 29 May, setting up a Ruud van Nistelrooy goal and scored his ninth goal in 33 internationals against Wales four days later. With Liverpool FC’s Ryan Babbel also sidelined, Robben was a likely starter against the world champions on Monday.