Van Bommel returns to Dutch national team

Bayern Munich midfielder Mark van Bommel has made his return to the Dutch national team, forming part of a nineteen-man pre selection for a friendly later this month.

For the friendly with Russia, against whom the Dutch crashed out of Euro 2008, Van Bommel is the only major change apart from the expected absence of Edwin van der Sar and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who both announced their international retirement.

Van Bommel’s last match with the Netherlands was at the World Cup in 2006. Since then, disagreements with then manager Marco van Basten let to the player’s omission from the team.

New coach Bert van Marwijk, who happens to be Van Bommel’s father in law, made an end to this situation and whether the player is to form part of the final selection for the match, will be revealed five days ahead of the game, which is scheduled for August 20th.