This newsitem has been supplied by PSV.nl
Coach Marco van Basten has included the PSV players Ibrahim Afellay and Danny Koevermans in his provisional 30-man Netherlands squad for the EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. The former PSV players Wilfred Bouma, André Ooijer, Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink have also been named in Holland's provisional EURO 2008 squad.
Neither Afellay nor Koevermans have made an appearance for the Dutch team at a major tournament before. Afellay competed at the FIFA World Cup Under-20 tournament, though, while Koevermans scored the winning goal for the Dutch in the qualification game against Luxembourg last year to seal their place in the finals.
Van Basten has called up four goalkeepers, but there was no place for Vitesse custodian Piet Velthuizen, neither for PSV defender Jan Kromkamp. The Netherlands coach recalled Liverpool Dirk Kuyt to his squad. The group will be trimmed down to 26 players on Friday May 16 and preparations for the EURO 2008 will begin in Noordwijk on May 20. The Dutch play friendlies against Ukraine (24 May), Denmark (at the Philips Stadium on 29 May) and Wales (1 June), before they kick off the tournament against Italy on 9 June.
Van Basten will announce his final 23-squad on May 28 at the latest.
Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax) and Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).
Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), John Heitinga (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic) and André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (HSV), Denny Landzaat (Feyenoord), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (HSV) and Demy de Zeeuw (AZ).
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Danny Koevermans (PSV) Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid) and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).
