Netherlands coach Marco van Basten left goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar out of his squad to play Euro 2008 co-hosts in a friendly.

Van Basten has told the 37-year-old, who has missed Manchester United's last two league matches with a groin strain, to concentrate on regaining full fitness with his club.

"I spoke with Edwin (van der Sar) and he told me that he still is recovering from his injury but will possibly play (against Liverpool) on Sunday, though he still is vulnerable," Van Basten said.

"I told him to focus on Manchester United, who have important matches coming up, and it is in our best interests that he will be fit when we start preparations for the Euro finals."

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie returns to the squad for the first time since October last year after an injury-plagued season.

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy underwent ankle surgery earlier this week but is expected to be fit in time for the finals.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem)

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), John Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Mario Melchiot (Wigan), André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg), Denny Landzaat (Feyenoord), Clarence Seedorf (Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

+++

Co-hosts Austria will be lucky to get past the group stages of Euro 2008, according to former coach Hans Krankl.

"There is always the chance with a little bit of luck, and if they are successful in their first game, something which we believed would not have been possible might happen," Krankl (pictured) said.

"But one should be realistic, if they survive the group stage this would be a great, great success," said Krankl, who coached the team from 2002-05.

Austria, co-hosting the tournament with Switzerland, have been drawn with Germany, Croatia and Poland in Group B.

Their first game is against Croatia in Vienna on June 8.

Krankl said it was the combination of the country's negligence in grooming its next generation of players and the string of second and third-rate veterans playing in clubs abroad which were at fault for the team's weakness.

The 55-year-old Krankl, who is serving as an ambassador for the tournament, said it would be difficult to keep up the momentum and enthusiasm for Euro 2008 among Austrians should their side go out early.

Heinz Palme, the Austrian government's coordinator for the three-week finals, said much hinged on the success of his team.

"What must not happen is that Austria get thrashed three times," said Palme.

Austria squad for match v Holland

Goalkeepers: Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Alex Manninger (AC Siena), Helge Payer (Rapid Vienna); Defenders: Gyorgy Garics (Napoli), Ronald Gercaliu (Austria Vienna), Emmanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow), Martin Hiden (Austria Kaernten), Sebastian Proedl (Sturm Graz); Midfielders: Andreas Ivanschitz (Panathinaikos), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg), Thomas Prager (Heerenveen), Juergen Saeumel (Sturm Graz), Christian Fuchs (Mattersburg), Michael Moerz (Mattersburg), Joachim Standfest (Austria Vienna), Markus Weissenberger (Eintracht Frankfurt); Forwards: Roland Linz (Braga), Martin Harnik (Werder Bremen), Roman Kienast (Ham-Kam)

Reuters