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Van der Vaart ruled out of German clash
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Dutch playmaker Rafael van der Vaart was on Saturday ruled out of Tuesday's high-profile friendly with Germany because of a thigh injury.

The Spurs star suffered the injury during Friday's friendly with Switzerland which ended 0-0.

"He had a spasm in his thigh," said Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.

"It is not serious but the Germany match will be too soon for him."

Van Marwijk will also have to do without Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, after the national coach acceded to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger to rest him.

Van Persie, who has revived Arsenal's season with 10 goals alone in the Premier League, admitted himself he was close to exhaustion.

Van Persie is likely to be replaced for the game in Hamburg by Klas-Jan Huntelaar, the Schalke 04 player having recovered from a nose injury which kept him out of the Swiss game.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia