Dutch leave out Van Nistelrooy
AFP

Veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been has been left out of the Netherlands' 26-man training squad ahead of this summer's 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Van Nistelrooy, 33, retired from international football after Euro 2008, but hoped to force his way into coach Bert van Marwijk's plans after making himself available for international selection again.

Van Marwijk, who will meet his players in two separate two-day training camps next week, also opted not to call on players involved in the Champions League final.

That will mean Bayern Munich duo Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel as well as Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder will remain with their clubs.

Uncapped duo Jeremain Lens from AZ Alkmaar and Ajax's Vurnon Anita were given their first call-ups.

Van Marwijk will name his 30-man provisional squad for the FIFA World Cup on 11 May. The Dutch are in Group E of this summer's finals, where they will face Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

Training squad

Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht); Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord); Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Otman Bakkal (PSV Eindhoven), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), John Heitinga (Everton), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar); Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar).