Van Nistelrooy left out of Dutch World Cup squad

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk omitted Hamburg SV striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from his provisional 30-men squad for the World Cup on Tuesday.

Van Nistelrooy retired as an international after Euro 2008 but this season he rescinded that decision.

"I told him that we followed him intensely and admired his ambition and effort to get to the World Cup," Van Marwijk said in a statement released by the Dutch soccer federation.

"I think that Ruud (van Nistelrooy) is fit but there was not enough time for him to reach his normal level after a long-term absence due to his knee injury."

The Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Sander Boschker (Twente)

Defenders: David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), John Heitinga  (Everton), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Andre Ooijer (PSV)

Midfielders: Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Wout Brama (Twente), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ)

Forwards: Jeremain Lens (AZ), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV)