Van Basten Drops Four, Calls Up Boulahrouz

The 22-year-old midfielder of Moroccan origin, who’s only played twice with the senior Oranje, could be the only player finally selected from the side which have won the Eredivisie for the past four seasons in a row. Danny Koevermans has been dropped by Marco van Basten, despite playing in the last two qualifiers and scoring the only goal against Luxembourg, which actually sent the Dutch to Austria and Switzerland.  

Maduro, Emanuelson and Jaliens out

The Netherlands boss had named a provisional 30-man party on May 6, which he downsized to 26 footballers today. Valencia’s Hedwiges Maduro, AZ’s Kew Jaliens and Urby Emanuelson of Ajax were also dropped, following Milan’s Clarence Seedorf, who declared himself unavailable last Tuesday.  

However, the biggest surprise was the re-call of Khalid Boulahrouz (pictured), who has not kicked a ball since November 13 last year! The Sevilla centre-back, who was not part of Van Basten’s initial choices, has already joined the rest of the squad for his first training session, but he must prove his fitness to the technical staff after a serious groin injury lay-off.  

Club obligations

Van Basten has a May 28 UEFA deadline to meet and the four players who were dropped today will be on standby in case of emergency until then. The Real Madrid trio of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Wes Sneijder, Ed van der Sar of Manchester United and The Celtic’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will all join the group later, because of club obligations.  

The Oranje kick off their preparation on Tuesday, with Van Nistelrooy, Robben and Vennegoor of Hesselink traveling to Noordwijk on May 23. The other two will meet their teammates three days later in Hoonderloo, just before the boss will be expected to name his final 23-man squad.  

The revised Dutch party:

Goalkeepers:  Sander Boschker (Twente), Van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).

Defenders:  Fred Bouma (Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers), Boulahrouz (Sevilla).

Midfielders:  Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Gio van Bronckhorst, Denny Landzaat (both Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (Twente), Nigel de Jong, Rafael van der Vaart (HSV), Wes Sneijder (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ).

Forwards:  Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt (both Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Van Nistelrooy, Robben (both Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Vennegoor of Hesselink (The Celtic).

Panos Bletsos, Goal.com