Netherlands' Robin van Persie and Nigel de Jong both are questionable for Wednesday's 2014 World Cup semifinal against Argentina. Van Persie is dealing with a stomach illness and de Jong is struggling with a groin injury, according to both ESPN and Reuters.
Van Persie trained separately from the rest of the team on Tuesday, creating uncertainty as to whether he will be fit for Wednesday's semifinal. Van Persie, who's seemingly struggled in the Netherlands' last two games, is struggling with a stomach sickness, according to manager Louis van Gaal.
"He has some stomach problems, some intestinal problems, so it's best not to train him," Van Gaal told reporters Tuesday, via Reuters.
Van Gaal benched van Persie late in the last 16 against Mexico, and the star forward was relatively ineffective in the quarterfinals against Costa Rica until he scored the team's first penalty in the shootout win.
De Jong's status for Wednesday also is uncertain. He's dealing with a groin injury he suffered against Mexico. Although the Netherlands said his expected recovery time is two to four weeks, de Jong practiced on Tuesday with the squad, leaving open the possibility he could make the lineup.
The Netherlands play Argentina on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.
