Marco van Basten’s attempt to become the first man to win the European Championship as a player and a manager is in danger of being undermined before it has begun by injuries and infighting. The former Ajax and AC Milan striker’s appointment was supposed to herald a return to the glory days of 20 years ago, when he inspired Holland to their only significant tournament success, although on the eve of their opening match against Italy the talk inside the camp has been dominated by the crocks and cliques that tarnished his playing days.

As a man whose playing career was cut short at the age of 28 by an ankle injury, Van Basten provided a useful shoulder to cry on when Arjen Robben and Ryan Babel were ruled out of this evening’s Group C match in Berne, Switzerland, with groin injuries, but he was less sympathetic when Wesley Sneijder’s tournament was put in jeopardy after a training-ground bust-up with Robin van Persie. Van Persie attempted to hush the matter up, denying any incident had taken place to Dutch journalists, a high-risk strategy undermined when a sanitised version of the clash appeared on Sneijder’s personal website.

Sneijder was taken to hospital after being caught by Van Persie in training on Friday, but after reacting badly, his anger had calmed enough yesterday for him to describe it as “a storm in a teacup”. Coincidentally, Van Persie has been deemed fit only for the bench this evening as a result of a knee injury that limited his contribution at Arsenal last season.

“There was an unfortunate incident in training when Van Persie landed hard on my ankle,” Sneijder said. “I was in a lot of pain at first, but after a precautionary visit to the hospital it turned out it wasn’t as bad as it first looked. It was a scare at first and I need to rest.

“I know Robin didn’t intend this to happen and I don’t blame him. It just happens sometimes when you have the tough battles we have in training sessions. Each and every player is very eager to show their best. Everyone is trying to win a place in the starting lineup. I’m just glad it turned out to be a storm in a teacup.”

Holland have a history of being distracted by internal conflicts at tournaments, with Van Basten charged with the unenviable task of smoothing things over and getting the best out of two players who barely speak to each other. Ruud Gullit walked out of Holland’s 1994 World Cup training camp because Dick Advocaat refused to make him captain and give him control over team tactics, and Edgar Davids stormed out of Euro 96 after accusing Guus Hiddink of “disappearing up the a***” of Danny Blind and Ronald Koeman in a disastrous tournament in which the camp was allegedly riddled with racial tension.

Van Basten has also had problems with several players during his four years in charge, with Clarence Seedorf, Mark van Bommel and Ruud van Nistelrooy being dropped before returning. Van Nistelrooy insisted that he would never play for Van Basten again before relenting in time to play in the European Championship qualifying games, but Seedorf went through with his threat and withdrew from the squad last month.

With Robben, Babel and Van Persie unfit, Van Nistelrooy will start on his own up front this evening and Van Basten has conceded that Holland could face an early exit. “If we have the wind in our sails then we can go very far, but if due to any circumstances the wind is blowing against us we could also be knocked out in the first round,” he said. “We’re all two years older since the World Cup and some guys play abroad now, in England, Germany and Spain, which are very good leagues.”

Italy also have injury problems after Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out with ankle ligament damage last week, although Christian Panucci has recovered from a knee injury to take his place. “I think I’ll manage to be available and I will do everything to be there,” Panucci said.