Dutch call-up for van Bommel, but no Ruud reprieve
Bayern Munich playmaker Mark van Bommel has been given the nod by national boss Marco van Basten to return for the Netherlands for Euro 2008 qualifiers next week against Bulgaria and Albania.
Van Bommel was left out of the opening two qualifiers against Luxembourg and Belarus as van Basten considered Dennis Landzaat to be in better form.
But van Basten believes the midfielder deserves a chance to prove himself again and has called him up in his list of 22 players.
Ajax striker Klas-Jan Huntelaar has once again been preferred over Real Madrid’s Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Out-of-favour van Nistelrooy this week criticised the national coach claiming he was making his selections not solely on sporting criteria.
Van Basten hit back Friday insisting he was “a man of honour and integrity” who was not influenced by personal feelings about players when selecting.
“I understand that Ruud is disappointed but he should have reacted differently. He could have phoned me,” said van Basten. “It’s disappointing to call my integrity into question.”
He added: “On the other hand I was a player myself and know that sometimes you can react emotionally, in anger.
“I want to reassure Ruud I still consider him a dangerous striker. But if I prefer Klas-Jan Huntelaar it’s because I’m giving preference to strikers who are technically adept at keeping the ball on the ground.”
Van Nistelrooy has not been selected since the World Cup where he disappointed van Basten but scoring just once.
Dutch squad
Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United/ENG)
Defenders: Urby Emanuelson, John Heitinga (both Ajax), Tim de Cler, Kew Jaliens (both AZ Alkmaar), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (FC Barcelona/ESP), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Khalid Boulahrouz (Chelsea/ENG), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg/GER)
Midfielders: Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Stijn Schaars, Demy de Zeeuw (both AZ Alkmaar), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg/GER), Denny Landzaat (Wigan Athletic/ENG), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich/GER)
Strikers: Ryan Babel, Klaas Jan Huntelaar (both Ajax), Robin van Persie (Arsenal/ENG), Arjen Robben (Chelsea/ENG), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool/ENG), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic/SCO)
Source:Soccer News
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