Chelsea FC youngster Patrick Van Aanholt was cut from the provisional Netherlands World Cup squad and will not be on the plane to Brazil. The defender was a surprise inclusion in the provisional squad in the first place but was considered to have a good chance of making it on the plane to help bolster a weak Netherlands defense.
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Van Aanholt had a fine season on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem and was considered by many pundits to be a potential starter for the Netherlands at one of the fullback positions. His cut from the final selection was unexpected for the youngster and he said that he was “disappointed but also proud and happy” and felt that he could try and make the squad for the next major tournament after coming so close this time around.
In other team news, Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart and star man for Holland will miss out on the World Cup after suffering a calf injury in training but no other big names have been excluded from the squad. The usual suspects for Holland in Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie will be expected to carry the team along with Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The Dutch will not be favored the way they were four years ago but still have a very good chance of making a deep run in the tournament and it is a shame that Van Aanholt will not be along for the ride.
Final 23-man Netherlands squad:
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City), Tim Krul (Newcastle United).
Defenders: Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax).
Midfielders: Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray).
Forwards: Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Memphis Depay (PSV)
Source: ESPNFC.com
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