Nigel de Jong has admitted that he will have to be more careful with his tackles at the World Cup.

De Jong left USA midfielder Stuart Holden with a broken leg following a crunching challenge in Holland's international friendly victory on Wednesday.

He later insisted there was no 'evil intent', saying that such instances are part of football.

The 25-year-old also acknowledged that his move from Hamburg to Manchester City in the summer of 2009 had helped him improve the physical aspect of his game.

But De Jong has now received seven yellow cards in just 10 games for Holland since arriving at Eastlands and recognises that he must be more controlled with his aggression when lining up for his country.

He does not want to endanger Holland's chances of success at the World Cup and has vowed not to get himself sent off in South Africa.

"In the Premier League the referees allow more than in the rest of Europe," he said in The Sun.

"But now when I play with the national team, I have to make a switch in my mind to realise.

"It is clear I bring my team into trouble with these yellow cards.

"And a red card at the World Cup can be the difference between going on or going home."