Makaay will miss Dutch games

Makaay had already been ruled out of the Group One tie in Armenia on Saturday but Dutch national team medical staff had hoped to pass him fit to face Andorra in a home match the following Wednesday.

"I feel no pain, but I can't move the knee properly," said Makaay.

"At the moment it is hard to say how long it will take. I have to wear a brace and in the beginning of next week we will decide when I can start training again."

The Bayern Munich forward sustained the injury last Wednesday when he strained his knee and left the Dutch training camp in Noordwijk on to be treated at his club in Germany.

Despite Makaay's absence, Dutch coach Marco van Basten is confident of his team progressing to the World Cup finals.

"The team is taking shape. The selection is crystalizing, as is our playing style," van Basten said.

"We'll have to play a very different game than we did the first time against Armenia. Then our attack was far from ideal."

In March, the Dutch won 2-0 but had problems breaking down Armenia, who have lost seven their nine qualifying games.

"We take Armenia seriously, but we'll apply pressure from the start," Van Basten said.

The Dutch lead their group with 22 points, one ahead of the Czech Republic.

The two nations face each other in Prague on October 8 in what is likely be the decisive match of the group.