International Football - Dutch stick with Madrid players

Eurosport - Fri, 07 Aug 18:26:00 2009

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has shown confidence his Real Madrid players by including them for the friendly against England in Amsterdam.

FOOTBALL Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart, playing for the Netherlands - 0

Van Marwijk announced his squad and included Real's Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben, who have all been the subject of transfer speculation in the Spanish media.

"I announced when I started as national coach that it won't be easy to be in the squad but that you won't be dropped easily" Van Marwijk said.

"Making this squad was difficult as only the Dutch league has started already and for the rest of my players I have judged them on the matches played in the warm up for the coming season."

Van Marwijk was pleased with striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar's move from Real Madrid to Milan and said the striker called him weeks ago to discuss his future.

"At this stage I think it is important to give players a sign of confidence as they have a tough warm up period" he added.

"But I expect that everyone will have a club where they can play regularly before August 31, like happened with Huntelaar."

Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who will not be in action this weekend because of knee problems, pulled out injured.

The Dutch federation said Van Bronckhorst would not be replaced so the squad will now contain 21 players.

Before the match at the Amsterdam Arena there will be

Before the match at the Amsterdam Arena there will be a minute of silence in memory of former England coach Bobby Robson, who died last week.

The Dutch, who have already qualified for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa, will face Japan in a friendly on September 5 at home and travel to Scotland four days later for their last Group 9 match.

Netherlands squad for friendly match against England on August 12 in Amsterdam:

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel Vorm (Utrecht)

Defenders: John Heitinga (Atletico Madrid), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Dirk Marcellis (PSV), Andre Ooijer (PSV), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid)

Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Milan), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid)

Reuters

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

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  1. Having these friendlies so close to the opening of the­ season is just so crazy. No wonder teams are­ complaining. They have the whole summer to have these­ friendlies. Can we blame the managers for being­ reluctant to let their stars go? And can we blame­ players for having injuries before a ball has even been­ kicked so that they are not selected to play in the­ national team?

    From cokrowinoto, on Sun 9 Aug 5:00AM

  2. I am from england and I don't know the spain­ language so I think that real madrid have a good team­ but barca have a good coach like pepe guardiola and for­ that barca has won the three league last season.and­ they can win two of them this season..real madrid is­ not going to win a champions league maybe primera or­ copa del rey but no the champions.you can say that I­ don't know nothing but with manuel pellegrini real­ can't win champions.real have lost the last chance­ to won champions league when they had capello in­ charge.if real madrid did not fired capello they were­ be the crown champions.but they lose there chance and­ they can spend all the money they have but never can­ win champions league.you can see what is going to do­ capello in 2010 world cup in africa with england.you­ saw what did capello in 2006/2007 when he won a title­ with real madrid.that title didn't won anybody who­ were in charge at real madrid but only capello did.he­ is a great coach and real madrid is a great loser that­ he fired capello.if you don't believe me watch on­ youtube real madrid in 2007 when they won a unbelievely­ title.watch all la remontadas or all matches.good bye­ and good luck in life all you psters.

    From besa, on Sun 9 Aug 2:56AM

  3. real madrid must sell­ guti,raul,gago,metzelder,dudek,miguel torres

    From besa, on Sun 9 Aug 2:55AM

  4. I am from england and I don't know the spain­ language so I think that real madrid have a good team­ but barca have a good coach like pepe guardiola and for­ that barca has won the three league last season.and­ they can win two of them this season..real madrid is­ not going to win a champions league maybe primera or­ copa del rey but no the champions.you can say that I­ don't know nothing but with manuel pellegrini real­ can't win champions.real have lost the last chance­ to won champions league when they had capello in­ charge.if real madrid did not fired capello they were­ be the crown champions.but they lose there chance and­ they can spend all the money they have but never can­ win champions league.you can see what is going to do­ capello in 2010 world cup in africa with england.you­ saw what did capello in 2006/2007 when he won a title­ with real madrid.that title didn't won anybody who­ were in charge at real madrid but only capello did.he­ is a great coach and real madrid is a great loser that­ he fired capello.if you don't believe me watch on­ youtube real madrid in 2007 when they won a unbelievely­ title.watch all la remontadas or all matches.good bye­ and good luck in life all you psters.

    From besa, on Sun 9 Aug 2:54AM

  5. they should sell rafael van der vaarat go madrid

    From ADNAN R, on Sun 9 Aug 1:06AM

  6. im a madrid fan
    but i agree that these 3 players need­ to leave madrid for their own sake
    its a shame if all­ of them just sit at the bench and doing nothing

    From Ikhwan, on Sat 8 Aug 10:14AM

  7. These 3 have been their best players for so many years,­ they have to leave Madrid!!!!

    From JT CaptainLegendHero, on Fri 7 Aug 3:52PM
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