Coach van Marwijk trims Dutch WC squad

(GSM) – Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has reduced his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad to 27 by releasing three players.

The trio of Otman Bakkal of PSV, Twente’s Wout Brama and David Mendes da Silva of Alkmaar are to leave the party.

The majority of the Dutch squad will take part in a training camp in Austria next week as they prepare for the summer showpiece in South Africa.

Wesley Sneijder, Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben will join up with their team-mates following the UEFA Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich on 22nd May.

Van Marwijk is expected to name his final 23-man party for the tournament on May 27.

Holland squad:

Goalkeepers: Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente)

Defenders: Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Edson Braafheid (Celtic)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (SV Hamburg), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsena), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)