De Jong and Van der Vaart back for Dutch

De Jong and Van der Vaart back for Dutch

Published Sep. 30, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk recalled fit-again midfielders Nigel de Jong and Rafael van der Vaart, and winger Arjen Robben, on Friday to his 23-man squad for European Championship qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden.

The Netherlands is already guaranteed a place at Euro 2012 after winning all of its first eight qualifiers but is not yet certain of finishing at the top of Group E.

Van Marwijk is missing playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who has a groin injury, Barcelona forward Ibrahim Afellay, who tore a left knee ligament in training last week, and Everton defender John Heitinga, who also has a knee injury.

Van Marwijk said he considered selecting Sneijder for the second of the two qualifiers to give him time to recover, ''but the medical staff said he wouldn't make it.''

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The Netherlands takes on Moldova in Rotterdam on Oct. 7 and faces Sweden in Stockholm four days later.

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Squad:

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Tim Krul (Newcastle)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Hoffenheim), Jeffrey Bruma (Hamburg), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon), Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Eljero Elia (Juventus), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)


 

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