NETHERLANDS v ARGENTINA: Van Gaal hopes to have van Persie, Janmaat despite bug

By John Bagratuni, dpa

Sao Paulo (dpa) - Dutch coach Louis van Gaal hopes to have Robin van Persie and Daryl Janmaat fit for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina despite the pair suffering from a stomach bug.

It is expected that both will play in the Sao Paulo arena, and the Dutch could also have Nigel de Jong return from a groin injury originally have thought to have ended his tournament, and use him to contain Argentina icon Lionel Messi.

Van Gaal admitted on Tuesday that being able to field De Jong would be a "miracle" for what he named "a 50-50 game" in Sao Paulo.

Fielding De Jong would be the latest trick from Van Gaal, who has so far done everything right in Brazil.

He surprised champions Spain with a 5-3-2 formation, brought on Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to turn around the last 16 game with Mexico, and fielded reserve goalkeeper Tim Krul for the quarter-final penalty shoot-out with Costa Rica.

But Van Gaal on Tuesday remained cautious about whether the AC Milan midfielder De Jong will be able to play.

"He tested today but we must wait how he is tomorrow. If he wants to come back that quickly we will have to wait (to see) how he will react. If he can play football then the miracle will come," Van Gaal said.

De Jong has resumed team training while Van Persie and Janmaat were ordered to take it easy, and Van Gaal did not want to make predictions for Wednesday.

"Van Persie has a stomach bug. It was better for him not to train because you would make it worse. I didn't want van Persie to train, and Janmaat also not because I didn't want to take any risks," he said.

"I will have to make a decision tomorrow, I don't know it yet. (But) he is very important. Van Persie is our leader and but a leader must be fit."

Van Gaal will want all his stars, which also includes the lively Arjen Robben, against Argentina and their star Messi who has four goals in Brazil, one more than Robben and Van Persie.

"Messi has not been elected World Footballer for nothing. He scores at the biggest stage. He has had problems doing that for his country but he wants to change this now," he said.

Van Gaal said he has his plan ready in principle but will make his final decisions, apart from the fitness factor of his players, when he knows the Argentina line-up right before the game.

And maybe the coach, who is not short of self-confidence, had his tricks in mind when he said that children back home should be allowed to watch the game despite the late 10 pm kick-off in the Netherlands, owing to the five-hour time difference.

"I would let my children watch the game. The World Cup is unique and has a huge impact in the world. They won't sleep anyway because they are so excited. So I advise all parents to let them watch," Van Gaal said.