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Liverpool Defender Jan Kromkamp Called-Up By Van Basten For Provisional Holland Squad

Submitted by Scott Harkness on Tue, 25/04/2006 - 20:34.

Holland head coach Marco van Basten has named Liverpool’s Jan Kromkamp in a provisional 33-man squad for the World Cup in Germany which starts on June 9.

Kromkamp started his career with Go Ahead Deventer, moved to AZ Alkmaar in the year 2000, before moving to Spanish side Villareal in 2005.

His move to Anfield from Villareal was Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's first signing of 2006 in a deal that saw Spanish full-back Josemi moving to Villareal in a swap deal.

The 25-year-old Dutch defender, who has only made four starts and six substitute appearances for the current European champions since his move in January, has been given a World Cup lifeline by van Basten, giving him a chance to make the final 23-man squad.

The former Ajax star, who now coaches the Dutch national team, said publicly that Kromkamp had made bad decisions for his international career, first by moving to Spanish side Villareal, and then his recent transfer to European Champions Liverpool.

Van Basten left Kromkamp out of his squad in March’s friendly against Ecuador, and has given warnings to players that they need to get plenty of matches under their belts to be chosen for his final 23 for the World Cup Finals, complaining that he has too little time to work with his squad.

Now, with this call-up, the talented Dutchman has the chance to prove his worth to the Oranje boss and stake his claim to a berth in the squad for Germany.

Surprisingly, Holland veterans Roy Makaay and Clarence Seedorf were omitted from provisional Netherlands squad announced on Friday by van Basten.

Striker Makaay, who plays with Bayern Munich, was left off in favour of rising Ajax star Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, currently the Dutch Eredivisie league's leading scorer.

Van Basten also included midfielders Edgar Davids from Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough’s George Boateng, PSV Eindhoven’s Mark van Bommel and Wesley Sneijder, leaving no room for Seedorf, who hasn't played for the national team since Van Basten became the Oranje coach in July 2004.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 players by the May 15 deadline set by FIFA for each national coach to name their final squads.

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Patrick Lodewijks (Feyenoord)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (SV Hamburg), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax Amsterdam), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord)

Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Philip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Edgar Davids (Tottenham Hotspur), Nigel de Jong (SV Hamburg), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax Amsterdam), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax Amsterdam), Rafael van der Vaart (SV Hamburg)

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Dirk Kuijt (Feyenoord), Martijn Meerdink (AZ Alkmaar), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Ein