Sneijder: Kuyt struggling in sub role

Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder says team-mate Dirk Kuyt is having a hard time coping with his role as a substitute in the national team.

The former Liverpool attacker, who has agreed to join Fenerbahce for next season, had to settle for a place on the bench in his country’s 1-0 defeat against Denmark on Saturday.

After the match, Kuyt did not hide his disappointment at losing his place in the team’s starting XI, and Sneijder has expressed sympathy for his fellow countryman.

“You can bet that it has been very hard for Kuyt,” the Inter midfielder told De Telegraaf. “He played at the World Cup and in the Euro qualifiers and now he is being left out.

“The fact that he was not in the starting line-up against Denmark was very painful for him, even more so than for the other players.

“He is very important for the balance of a team.”

The Netherlands will take on Germany at on Wednesday.