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In the composition of the Dutch national team for the World Cup final tournament in Germany, the last five changes were made. The team's head coach Marco Van Basten, from the [link="http://www.eurofootball.com/index.php?page=news&id=5594"]adjusted preliminary list[/link] announced a week ago, selected five players who did not make it to the final team. Carefully selecting the players, M. Van Basten initially announced an [link="http://www.eurofootball.com/index.php?page=news&id=5394"]extended list of 33 players[/link], and after a few weeks he removed six names from it and added one. However, five players did not make it to the final lineup - Amsterdam "Ajax" striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, "Feyenoord" forward Romeo Castelen, "AZ" defender Barry Opdam, midfielders Nigel De Jong from "Hamburger" and George Boateng from "Middlesbrough". 22-year-old K.J. Huntelaar, representing "Heerenveen" and "Ajax" this season, scored a total of 40 goals and became the top scorer in the Netherlands, but ultimately did not make it to the main team and will now represent the Dutch youth team in this month's European Championships. "Klaas-Jan had a great season, scoring many goals. However, it didn't work out for him because we decided to take only three midfielders to Germany," explained M. Van Basten his choice. Unlike K.J. Huntelaar, R. Castelen was constantly called up for the national team during the qualification matches, but like several other famous names such as Edgar Davids, George Boateng, Nigel de Jong and Wilfred Bouma, he did not make it to the final squad. The biggest surprise would be that Barry Opdam, who played in all six qualification matches from the start, was left out, while Johnny Heitinga, who did not play for the national team since August last year, managed to secure a place in the squad after successful performances towards the end of the season. Dutch national team composition: Goalkeepers Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ); Defenders: Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburger), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ), Andre Ooijer (PSV); Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV), Danny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger SV); Forwards: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV).
