Ruud van Nistelrooy doesn't make the first cut

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has not reserved a spot for Ruud van Nistelrooy in his preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Another slight surprise is that Van Marwijk chose FC Twente keeper Sander Boschker instead of Piet Velthuizen.

Van Marwijk had informed Van Nistelrooy about his decision on Monday: "I told him we had followed him intensively over the past months and that we admire his ambition to make it to the World Cup. We spoke about that a few times recently. I believe Ruud is fit, but I don't believe he had enough time after his injuries to reach his old level."

Van Marwijk had today named 30 players of whom 23 will come to South Africa for the tournament.

The 30 players are:

Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Eljero Elia (HSV), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), John Heitinga (Everton), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (AZ), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), André Ooijer (PSV), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern München), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)