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International Friendly: Netherlands 1 Ghana 0

Having missed the 1-1 draw with Ecuador a fortnight ago, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Nigel de Jong were among five added to the starting XI.

But it was captain Robin van Persie – scorer of the equaliser against Ecuador – who made the early breakthrough, tapping home from six yards after being teed up by Sneijder.

Robben squandered numerous opportunities to extend the lead, most notably scooping over the crossbar from close range, but the home side's lead never looked in any danger.

The frustration of that miss may have been a factor as Robben lost his temper with Rashid Sumaila after a particularly reckless challenge by the defender, before Blind was caught by Michael Essien's elbow - the term 'friendly' apparently lost on the Ghanaians.

Ghana's Akaminko was the only major injury concern of the match after appearing to fall awkwardly on his ankle late on, and the visitors will need to work on their attacking threat if they have designs on qualifying from a tough group in Brazil, as they line up alongside Germany, Portugal and the United States.