The KNVB announced on Monday the preliminary list of players that will be looked at by Dutch national coach Bert van Marwijk leading up to the upcoming Euro 2012 to be held in Poland and Ukraine starting in June.
Of course, there are some heavyweights that will be counted on by the national side in order to hoist the trophy they last won back in 1988. The Van Persies, Robbens, Sneijders and Huntelaars of the world make this squad obviously one of the most explosive ones around. Of course the inclusion of several World Cup veterans such as Khalid Boulahrouz, Joris Mathijsen, amongst many others give this squad the balance that is well need in a team that many consider a top contender.
Of course, there will also be the big bangers in the middle such as Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel that will play the role of villains with a great deal of pleasure.
Yet some of the players called up are individuals that raised eyebrows are also there not because of the surprise of their names being on the list. The eyebrows were raised because of what they could potentially do with the national team in the short and long term.
On the short term, you’d have to look at Barcelona’s Ibrahim Afellay. The former PSV man suffered an ACL tear a few months ago and has obtained playing time under Pep Guardiola the past few weeks. The question mark would be how much will he be able to get next weekend against Real Betis in Barça league finale.
FC Twente’s Luuk de Young is a player being looked at by several European clubs, especially Liverpool and reigning Bundesliga champs Borussia Dortmund are looking to acquire his services. The Swiss-born forward has been kept looked at extensively and will be fundamental as the Oranje look at an option should some of the heavy hitters up top were not available for 2014 qualifiers as well as a long term player looking at Russia 2018.
This list of players will be cut down to be able to send in the final list to UEFA in the coming weeks.
The Dutch will be in Group C where they will face Germany, Portugal and Denmark.
Preliminary list
Ibrahim Afellay, Barcelona- ESP
Vurnon Anita, Ajax
Mark van Bommel, AC Milan-ITA
Khalid Boulahrouz, VfB Stuttgart- GER
Wilfred Bouma, PSV
Jasper Cillessen, Ajax
Urby Emanuelson, AC Milan- ITA
John Heitinga, Everton- ENG
Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Schalke ’04- GER
John Ola, FC Twente
Luuk de Young, FC Twente
Nigel de Jong, Manchester City-ENG
Siem de Jong, Ajax
Tim Krul, Newcastle United – ENG
Dirk Kuyt, Liverpool- ENG
Jeremain Lens, PSV
Hedwiges Maduro, Valencia-ESP
Adam Maher, AZ Alkmaar
Joris Mathijsen, Malaga- ESP
Erwin Mulder, Feyenoord
Luciano Narsingh, Heerenveen
Robin van Persie, Arsenal- ENG
Erik Pieters, PSV
Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich- GER
Stijn Schaars, Sporting- POR
Wesley Sneijder, Inter- ITA
Maarten Stekelenburg, AS Roma- ITA
Kevin Strootman, PSV
Rafael van der Vaart, Tottenham Hotspur- ENG
Nick Viergever, AZ Alkmaar
Ron Vlaar, Feyenoord
Michel Vorm, Swansea City
Stefan de Vrij, Feyenoord
Gregory van der Wiel, Ajax
Georginio Wijnaldum, PSV
Jetro Willems, PSV
