Few surprises in Van Gaal's Dutch World Cup selection

New Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal is set to trust youth as he goes into his final tournament as boss of the Netherlands. The side has an average age of under 26, while possessing just six players aged 30 or above.

The most notable exclusion from Van Gaal’s squad is Hamburg midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart who has been ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury following a horrible club season in which his side were almost relegated for the first time since the reuniting of Germany. He has been replaced in the squad by Georginio Wijnaldum of PSV Eindhoven, who has just four caps so far.

Nine of the 23-man squad have yet to reach double figures in caps. One of those is Jasper Cillessan of Ajax, a 25 year old goalkeeper who is set to start the tournament as first choice stopper ahead of Tim Krul and Michel Vorm of Premier League fame. Robin Van Persie will captain the 2010 World Cup finalists in this tournament, breathing further speculation to weather he will assume the same responsibility when Louis Van Gaal takes over the Old Trafford reigns after the tournament.

Not much is expected of the Holland side this time around and maybe that is with reason. Just seven of the current squad were in the same position four years ago (Kuyt, De Jong, Van Persie, Vorm, Robben, Sneijder and Huntelaar). Add to that, only nine of the squad figured in the 23 for Euro 2012, they were the seven above alongside Tim Krul and Ron Vlaar.

Holland kick off their Group B campaign with a repeat of the last editions final against Spain before clashes against Australia and Chile to round out the group stage.

For a full view of the Netherlands squad visit our Dutch team page.

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle), Michel Vorm (Swansea)

Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord)

Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich), Jonathan De Guzman (Swansea), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Memphis Depay (PSV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuijt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Extratime.ie will be covering the FIFA World Cup 2014 from the first kick of a ball to the last with reports and news. We will also have regular features from our reporter in Brazil, Macdara Ferris, who is attending the Russia v South Korea game amongst others.