EURO 2012: Uncapped duo in Dutch team
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Two uncapped players have been named in the final 23-man Euro 2012 panel selected by Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk.
18-year old PSV left-back Jetro Willems and SC Heerenveen forward Luciano Narsingh.
The Dutch boss cut Ajax pair Vurnon Anita and Siem de Jong, as well as Jeremain Lens (PSV) and Adam Maher (AZ) from those named in his provisional squad.
"I spoke extensively with the dropouts and gave them an explanation," Van Marwijk said. "They deserved an explanation after their good work. They can leave the training camp with their heads held high."
The selection of rookie Willems is one of the biggest talking points from the Dutch selection.
Since Giovanni van Bronckhorst's retirement following the 2010 World Cup final, the Oranje have struggled to fill the left-back slot.
Wilfred Bouma of PSV also travels with the squad - four years from his last international appearance, at Euro 2008.
Willems played on Saturday as Netherlands lost 2-1 to Bulgaria in Amsterdam.
Robin van Persie's strike put then a goal up but Ivelin Popov equalised and Ilyain Mitsanski scored a 93rd minute following Heitinga's misplaced pass.
Last Tuesday, Netherlands lost 3-2 against Bayern Munich in a game that saw Arjen Robben - who plays club football for Munich - subjected to severe abuse.
Three days previous, Robben missed an extra-time penalty in the Champions League final against Chelsea.
Van Marwijk gave him a few days of a break and he rejoined the panel on Friday before playing the last 13 minutes of the Bulgaria game.
“After the Bayern match, I told Arjen that I felt badly about the crowd’s behaviour,” van Marwijk said.
“I said ‘If I were you, I would keep mum to the press and leave the stadium straightaway.’”
Van Marwijk blasted the treatment of his player 'scandalous' while captain Mark van Bommel echoed comments that Robben could consider leaving Bayern as a result of the boos and whistles that rang in his ears.
Robben has issued a public thanks to the Dutch fans.
"It's fantastic to receive so much support," he said.
"I never had a week like this; it was very hard but that's the life of a professional athlete.
"Sometimes everyone thinks you're a p***k and sometimes you're a hero. Last week, I was a p***k. But I will be there on June 9, I can assure you."
The 2010 World Cup finalists have returned from a Swiss training camp and will spend this week mainly in Hoenderloo.
They have two remaining friendly games - Slovakia in Rotterdam on Wednesday and Northern Ireland in Amsterdam on Saturday.
Their tournament opens against Denmark on June 9, while their Group of Death also includes Germany and Portugal.
Final Netherlands squad:
Goalkeepers - Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Defenders - Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), Wilfred Bouma (PSV), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Jetro Willems (PSV)
Midfielders - Ibrahim Afellay (FC Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Portugal), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Kevin Strootman (PSV), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards - Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Luciano Narsingh (sc Heerenveen), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich). (Xinhua-ANI)
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About Chris McNulty
Chris McNulty is one of extratime's Northwest correspondents, covering Finn Harps and Derry City. Has worked as a sports writer with the Donegal News since 2007. View Full Profile