Those individual training sessions at Säbener Straße evidently did Arjen Robben some good! The winger put in a strong performance to help the Dutch national team to a resounding 5-0 victory against Ivory Coast on Sunday evening. Robben provided the second goal from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute as well as an assist. Goals from Joel Veltman (13, 36), Davy Klaasen (69) and Vincent Janssen (75) completed a comfortable win. From Tuesday Robben will be reunited with a former coach as Dick Advocaat begins his third spell as Netherlands boss. His first game will be a World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg on Friday (9 June).
Kimmich begins Confederations Cup adventure
Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich and the rest of the Germany team begin their summer of international action on Monday. The 22 members of the squad will meet at Düsseldorf Airport before flying to Copenhagen, where they’ll have a training session before playing a friendly against Denmark (20:45 CEST). Kimmich and co then take on San Marino in a World Cup qualifier this Saturday in Nuremberg. For the subsequent Confederations Cup, “the focus is on development and not just success”, according to Joachim Löw. The absence of experienced campaigners like Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Jérôme Boateng and Thomas Müller shows that Löw wants to introduce his young talent to the highest level of international football.
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