Kalou moved to Holland in 2003 at the age of 17

Ivorian Salomon Kalou is to go to court to appeal against the decision of immigration minister Rita Verdonk to deny his application to be fast-tracked for a Dutch passport.

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has already guaranteed Kalou a spot in his World Cup squad if he gets the passport.

The Feyenoord striker applied at the end of 2004 and after various hearings received Verdonk's final answer on 20 March.

Kalou's lawyer on Friday said: "We want judgement from the court but it might be too late for the World Cup."

Verdonk told parliament last month that Kalou did not fulfil the criteria for fast-track citizenship and will have to retake a Dutch language and culture test in May, an examination he has already failed once.

She also said he had lived in the country for only three years, short of the five-year term normally required to qualify for a Dutch passport.

Kalou rejected several invitations to join the Ivory Coast national squad last year, even though his brother Bonaventure is captain of the team.

Ivory Coast have also qualified for the World Cup and face the Netherlands in a Group C game in Stuttgart on 16 June.

Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro are also in their group.

Van Basten must announce his squad by 15 May.