Van Gaal leaves out Netherlands stars

Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben have all been left out of the Netherlands squad for their friendly against Italy.

Hamburg’s Van der Vaart, Bayern Munich winger Robben and playmaker Sneijder, who this week moved from Inter Milan to Galatasaray, were omitted by coach Louis van Gaal.

Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg also missed out, having lost his place in the Roma first team.

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has opted not to include several accomplished stars in his 23-man squad for the upcoming international friendly against Italy.

Sneijder had been frozen out of the Inter first team after refusing to take a pay cut, while Van der Vaart and Robben have been out injured in recent weeks.

Notable newcomers in the squad are Swansea midfielder Jonathan de Guzman and Ajax wing-back Daley Blind, while players such as Ola John and Ricky van Wolfswinkel were also called up.

Promising youngsters such as Adam Maher and Marco van Ginkel made the cut.

The match against Italy takes place at the Amsterdam ArenA on February 6.

Netherlands: Kenneth Vermeer (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea), Tim Krul (Newcastle), Daley Blind (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Sporting CP), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord)
Joris Mathijsen (Feyenoord), Ricardo van Rhijn (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Twente), Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea), Adam Maher (AZ), Kevin Strootman (PSV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce)
Ola John (Benfica), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Jeremain Lens (PSV), Ruben Schaken (Feyenoord), Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting CP).