Boulahrouz to start

Khalid Boulahrouz will start at centre half when Netherlands face Argentina in their final World Cup Group C match in Frankfurt on Wednesday. "We will play Boulahrouz because he has not played much so far and needs matches," coach Marco van Basten told re

The 24-year-old Boulahrouz will replace Joris Mathijsen, who is on one yellow card.

Rafael van der Vaart is to play alongside Philip Cocu and Wesley Sneijder in a three-man midfield.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst missed training on Tuesday with a minor ankle injury while fellow defender Johnny Heitinga, recovering from a hamstring problem, worked separately from the squad.

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The Dutch have already qualified for the last 16 but Van Basten refused to speculate on which team out of Portugal, Mexico and Angola he would prefer to play at the weekend.

FOOTBALL 2006 World Cup Van Basten Netherlands

Image credit: Reuters

"That is of no use and we will have to wait and see tomorrow night," Van Basten said.

"We will play tough opponents and that will be a good test to see where we stand."

Argentina are also certain of a place in the second round.

Possible team for Netherlands:

1-Edwin van der Sar, 2-Kew Jaliens, 13-Andre Ooijer, 3-Khalid Boulahrouz, 15-Tim de Cler, 20-Wesley Sneijder, 10-Rafael van der Vaart, 8-Philip Cocu, 7-Dirk Kuijt, 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 17-Robin van Persie.

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