The Holland coach Bert van Marwijk announced his final 23-man squad without any surprise Thursday, with Vurnon Anita, Ron Vlaar, Orlando Engelaar and Jeremain Lens to miss the World Cup in South Africa.
"It is entirely my responsibility," said Van Marwijk in a press conference. "But the decision was unanimous however."
Engelaar was in the 2008 European Championship squad, but this time, "Engelaar was the one of the four who disappointed me the most."
Anita just made his international debut as a second-half substitute during Holland's 2-1 win over Mexico in a warm-up match yesterday. Vlaar missed much of the training camp in Austria through injury. To the 22-year-old forward Lens, it's already a surprise to get in the preliminary squad.
In South Africa, Holland will play in Group E with Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.
Following is the squad:
Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid ( Celtic), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong ( Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Klaas- Jan Huntelaar (Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Arsenal).