Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel is set to return for the first home game of the season against Middlesbrough next Saturday after Holland were eliminated from the Olympics.
Argentina defeated Holland 2-1 in the quarter finals in Shanghai, courtesy of goals from Messi and Di Maria. Babel’s Liverpool team mate Javier Mascherano played the full match for the victors, who will face arch rivals Brazil in the semi final on Tuesday.
That means Mascherano will go head-to-head with Liverpool team mate Lucas Leiva in midfield. Neither though will return to Merseyside early as their is also the third place play-off for the losing semi-finalist. The winners of the semi final will face the winner of Nigeria vs Belgium in the final on Saturday.
Babel captained the Dutch team but was somewhat isolated in their attack.