Trio back in Van Basten's plans
Friday, February 1, 2008
Article summary
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has recalled Ibrahim Afellay, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Denny Landzaat to his squad to face Croatia next week.
Article body
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has recalled Ibrahim Afellay, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Denny Landzaat to his squad after an absence of more than six months for next week's friendly against fellow UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers Croatia in Split.
Welcome returns
Afellay won his only cap in the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group F game against Slovenia in March last year, while Vennegoor of Hesselink made his 12th international appearance in a 3-1 friendly defeat of Thailand in June. Neither has been involved in Van Basten's squad since the Group F double-header against Bulgaria and Albania in early September while Landzaat, who moved from Wigan Athletic FC to Feyenoord in the transfer window and has won 36 caps, was last selected by Van Basten for August's friendly with Switzerland.
'Take it seriously'
"Croatia's a friendly match so in that sense the result is of less importance, but obviously we want to practice as well as we can so we have to take this match seriously," said Van Basten, who has left out Urby Emanuelson, Kew Jaliens, Danny Koevermans, Dirk Kuyt, Hedwiges Maduro and Henk Timmer. Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben are missing due to injury. The Netherlands are in Group C for this summer's final tournament in Austria and Switzerland, along with France, Italy and Romania.
Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United FC), Maarten Stekelenburg (AFC Ajax).
Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa FC), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (AFC Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic FC), André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers FC).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Hamburger SV), Denny Landzaat (Feyenoord), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid CF), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger SV), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).
Forward: Ryan Babel (Liverpool FC), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AFC Ajax), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid CF), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic FC).