Sneijder ruled out of France clash

Wesley Sneijder has been ruled out of Netherlands’ World Cup qualifier against France on Monday after picking up a hamstring injury, head coach Danny Blind has confirmed.

The Galatasaray midfielder was forced off at half-time in Friday’s 4-1 hammering of Belarus, and while Blind acknowledged after the game that Sneijder was likely to miss the visit of France, they gave him the chance to prove his fitness.

However, with Tonny Vilhena receiving a call-up on Saturday as an insurance policy for the 32-year-old, the writing appeared to be on the wall.

And Blind confirmed on Sunday that Sneijder will leave the squad before the match.

He told a media conference: “He will remain with us until Monday morning.

“I have asked him [to stay] – he can encourage us. But on matchday he is no longer necessary. He will leave after breakfast.”