Dutch fear worst for Aissati

Netherlands midfielder Ismaïl Aissati faces a scan on his right knee on Monday to determine the extent of the injury he aggravated in Sunday's 1-0 Group A win against Israel.

De Haan worry
The 18-year-old playmaker was replaced by Otman Bakkal shortly before half-time and now has an anxious wait to see if he can play any further part in the tournament. "I don't know how he is at the moment," coach Foppe de Haan said. "He has been suffering from the injury for quite some time. He probably triggered it again after a sliding tackle. Now we have to wait and see but I'm not positive about it."

Bad luck
Aissati, who spent the second half of the season on loan at FC Twente from PSV Eindhoven, has been playing through the pain barrier in recent months. De Haan, however, insists there was no risk of worsening the injury by fielding him against Israel. "He was able to fully participate in training and according to the doctor, it was fine for him to play," De Haan said. "This was just something that could happen in any match."

2006 winner
Aissati was a key member of the Jong Oranje team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Portugal last summer, despite struggling then with the same problem which has still not been fully diagnosed. Of the side that beat Ukraine in the final in Porto last June, only he and captain Ron Vlaar were in the starting lineup against Israel at the Abe Lenstra Stadium.