Depay ding dong not behind RVP omission

Danny Blind his denied that Robin van Persie was benched against Kazakhstan after a row with Manchester United star Memphis Depay.

Former United frontman Van Persie was involved in an incident with current Old Trafford star Memphis ahead of Holland’s Euro 2016 qualifying win over Kazakhstan on Saturday night.

Van Persie, 32, who has been left on the bench for his Turkish side Fenerbahce this season, was left out of the starting line-up by Blind, but the Dutch coach played down the incident and denied that Van Persie had been placed on the bench as a result of the “discussion” he had with Memphis.

“We have discussed what happened, but that had nothing to do with my decision,” said Blind, whose men need to beat Czech Republic on Tuesday and hope Iceland can defeat Turkey.

“It was a discussion during training about a ball that should have been given over. Things like that happen often.

“There are sometimes situations in training where players think differently. That’s what happened and then it was over.

“I felt that he (Van Persie) was not fit enough to start. I think that’s down to the fact that he has not played without pain for quite a while.

“He is pain free now and feels 100 per cent. But I want him to be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes. That’s why I did not play him as support striker against Kazakhstan.

“He is fit enough for the match against Czech Republic, but I will have to make choices.”

Blind handed Van Persie his 100th cap from the bench at the Astana Arena, with suggestions his three-minute cameo appearance was a farewell gesture as Blind prepares to build a side without Van Persie.

“That is absolute nonsense,” added Blind.

“We had agreed that I would get him on if we needed a goal, but I also thought it was only logical to give him his 100th cap because the game was already decided.

“I had to wait for my third substitution for a bit, though. I talked about that with Robin and he understood me. I find it baffling that people don’t get that.”

Speaking after Saturday’s 2-1 win, Van Persie said he would have rather he had marked his century with a starting berth: “The important thing is that we won. But I would have rather started.”