Angry Kuyt blasts Italy

World champions accused of not showing respect

Last updated: 17th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Angry Kuyt blasts Italy

Kuyt: Angry

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Holland star Dirk Kuyt has accused Italy of deliberately kicking them during the friendly between the two countries at the weekend.

Kuyt was unhappy with Italy's tactics as Robin van Persie suffered a serious ankle injury following a challenge by Giorgio Chiellini.

Van Persie has absolved Chiellini of any blame, but Liverpool forward Kuyt was left incensed by Italy's rough approach to the game.

Kuyt felt Italy's approach showed a lack of respect towards his international team-mates.

Anger

"I was very disappointed," Kuyt told Sky Sports News.

"We played a friendly against a big country - Italy - and if you see the way they kicked us it's very sad, very sad for the Dutch team and also very sad for Robin because he was in great form.

"I think it was a bad tackle [Chiellini on van Persie] sometimes you think about this when you play a friendly for your country there should be more respect for each other and hopefully it won't happen in the future."

Sympathy

Holland defender Johnny Heitinga had sympathy for Van Persie with the Arsenal forward facing a six-week spell on the sidelines with torn ankle ligaments.

"It's hard for a team, but harder for himself as he has been playing well for the last couple of months and he was one of the best players in the Premier League," said Heitinga.

"I hope for him he recovers soon."