 George Boateng has had an impressive season for Boro |
Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng has failed to make Holland's squad for the World Cup finals this summer. The 31-year-old had been included in coach Marco van Basten's 28-man pre-World Cup squad, but Boateng has been one of five players to be culled.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, top-scorer in Holland, has also been left out.
Huntelaar, 22, has netted more than 50 goals in all competitions for Heerenveen and Ajax this season, but the striker has failed to make the cut.
Recent comments from Van Basten had suggested that Huntelaar might get the nod despite being an international novice but in the end the coach decided against it.
Other players to miss out were AZ Alkmaar defender Barry Opdam, Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong and Romeo Castelen, the Feyenoord forward.
The inclusion of Ajax defender John Heitinga is also something of a surprise as is the decision to pick Jan Kromkamp who has played sporadically for Liverpool this season.
Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax).
Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV).
Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).
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