There were recalls for defenders Jaap Stam and Patrick Paauwe as well as promising striker Rafael van der Vaart when Dutch coach Dick Advocaat named his squad for Saturday’s European Championship qualifying match against Belarus in Nijmegen.
Stam and van der Vaart back missed last month’s 1-0 friendly victory in Norway with an Achilles tendon injury while Feyenoord’s Paauwe was left out.
PSV Eindhoven defenders Andre Ooijer and Wilfred Bouma are missing from the squad due to injury.
‘On Saturday it will be serious,’ said Advocaat.
‘We played well in the friendlies, but everybody will have forgotten that if we drop points against Belarus.’
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Fulham), Ronald Waterreus (PSV Eindhoven)
Defenders: Frank de Boer (Barcelona), Jaap Stam (Lazio), KevinHofland (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick Paauwe (Feyenoord), Michael Reiziger (Barcelona), Fernando Ricksen (Rangers)
: Mark van Bommel (PSV Eindhoven), Paul Bosvelt (Feyenoord), Phillip Cocu (Barcelona), Edgar Davids (Juventus), Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona), Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax Amsterdam)
Forwards: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea), Pierre van Hooijdonk (Feyenoord), Roy Makaay (Deportivo Coruna), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Boudewijn Zenden (Chelsea), Andy van der Meyde (Ajax Amsterdam)
