Van Marwijk names Dutch squad
Netherlands coach Bert Van Marwijk has named a couple of surprise picks in his final 23-man squad for Euro 2012, with veteran Wilfried Bouma and uncapped Jetro Willems included for the tournament.
Van Marwijk has cut his initial 27-man squad down ahead of Saturday’s friendly encounter with Bulgaria in Amsterdam, with Siem de Jong, Vurnon Anita, Jeremain Lens and youngster Adam Maher missing out.
Bouma, 33, is a shock inclusion, having not appeared for the Dutch side since the last European Championships in 2008, whilst the alternative at left-back, Jetro Willems, is uncapped at international level.
The dilemma comes following the broken foot sustained by first-choice Erik Pieters earlier this year, with the PSV Eindhoven man replaced at club level by the inexperienced Willems.
Netherlands can, though, call upon an array of talent in their final squad, with Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder three of the most feared names in European football.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Michel Vorm (Swansea City).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam, Jetro Willems (PSV Eindhoven).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Luuk de Jong (Twente Enschede), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Luciano Narsingh (Heerenveen), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).
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