Dutch denied Kuyt for visit of Finland

Finland will travel to the Netherlands for their UEFA EURO 2012 Group E qualifier looking for a first victory against the Oranje in 60 years and their sole success against the hosts in a competitive fixture.

Team news
• A 5-0 win in San Marino kept Dutch spirits high, with Ruud van Nistelrooy – on as a substitute for his first international appearance in two years – scoring his 34th international goal, lifting him above Johan Cruyff and Abe Lenstra into fourth in the Dutch's all-time scorers' list. "That is really nice for him; he is a true lover of the game," said coach Bert van Marwijk, who still saw room for improvement. "Everyone expected us to beat San Marino, but it could have been a bit better. It is about split seconds; fast decisions and fast action. In the first half we failed in that respect."

• Liverpool FC forward Dirk Kuyt has been ruled out after picking up a shoulder injury in training on Monday. "I think he might be out for a few weeks," said Van Marwijk. Khalid Boulahrouz is also doubtful with a groin injury.

• Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AFC Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Hércules CF), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Defenders: Vurnon Anita (AFC Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton FC), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax)
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (FC Bayern München), Theo Janssen (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia CF), Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Demy de Zeeuw (AFC Ajax)
Forwards: Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (FC Schalke 04), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburger SV)

• A 2-0 loss in Moldova was bad enough for Finland, but the dismissal of Sami Hyypiä means they will also be without their captain for the Netherlands game. Stuart Baxter will welcome back the experienced Joonas Kolkka and Teemu Tainio, but said: "The defeat was a huge disappointment; it will not be easy after that result."

• Finland squad
Goalkeepers: Otto Fredrikson (FC Spartak Nalchik), Peter Enckelman (Saint Johnstone FC), Jukka Lehtovaara (FC TPS Turku)
Defenders: Veli Lampi (Willem II), Markus Heikkinen (SK Rapid Wien), Niklas Moisander (AZ Alkmaar), Petri Pasanen (SV Werder Bremen), Sami Hyypiä (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Jonas Portin (Ascoli Calcio 1898)
Midfielders: Tim Sparv (FC Groningen), Mika Väyrynen (SC Heerenveen), Roni Porokara (Örebro SK), Roman Eremenko (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Kasper Hämäläinen (Djurgårdens IF), Teemu Tainio (AFC Ajax), Joonas Kolkka (NAC Breda), Daniel Sjölund (Djurgårdens IF)
Forwards: Jari Litmanen (FC Lahti), Jonatan Johansson (FC TPS Turku), Mikael Forssell (Hannover 96), Alexei Eremenko Jr (FF Jaro), Shefki Kuqi (Swansea City FC)

Match background
• The Netherlands' record in 12 matches against Finland reads W9 D2 L1 (W4 D1 L0 at home).

• The sides have met three times before in Rotterdam, with the Netherlands winning the two most recent contests and drawing the other.

• They last met in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, when the Netherlands triumphed 3-1 in Amsterdam on 13 October 2004 and 4-0 in Helsinki on 8 June the following year. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt, Phillip Cocu and Robin van Persie grabbed the goals in the Finnish capital.

• Nine of their 12 meetings have been competitive fixtures, with the two sides also drawn together in qualifying for the 1976 and 1992 UEFA European Championships and the 1990 World Cup.

• Their most recent encounter in UEFA European Championship qualifying came in Helsinki on 5 June 1991 and ended in a 1-1 draw as Erik Holmgren cancelled out Frank de Boer's opener for the visitors.

• Prior to that outing, the Netherlands won the home fixture 2-0 at Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium thanks to efforts from Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit.

• Johan Cruyff struck twice and Johan Neeskens once during a 3-1 victory for the Oranje in their 1976 UEFA European Championship qualifier in Helsinki on 25 September 1974. Willy van der Kuijlen then hit a hat-trick in the return fixture in Nijmegen as the hosts ran out 4-1 winners. Finland had opened the scoring in both matches.

• Finland's only win against the Netherlands was a 4-1 victory in a friendly in Helsinki on 11 June 1950.

• The first match between the sides was the bronze medal game at the 1912 Olympics; Jan Vos plundered five goals in a 9-0 success for the Netherlands in Solna on 4 July.