Holland squad for Australia friendly
ZEIST - Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has left playmaker Rafael van der Vaart out of his 22-man squad for a friendly against Australia on October 10 in Sydney.
However, Van Marwijk left open the door for Van der Vaart as Robin van Persie and Andre Ooijer might stay at home as their wives are due to give birth.
"I spoke with Rafael about it and he showed understanding," Van Marwijk told a news conference on Friday.
"He played only one match and a bit the last four months and I made an exception for him for a long time as he is a special player who always brings something special.
"But if Robin van Persie's wife has not given birth to her baby before we leave, Robin will stay at home and Rafael will replace him."
Van Marwijk will miss Arjen Robben as the winger sustained a knee injury during a Champions League match with his club Bayern Munich against Juventus on Wednesday.
The Dutch have already qualified for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa with eight straight wins in European qualifying Group Nine.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem)
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Defenders: John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Glenn Loovens (Celtic)
Midfielders: Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax Amsterdam), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Eljero Elia (Hamburg SV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool).
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