Midfielder Wesley Sneijder has been left out of a provisional 26-man Netherlands squad for this month’s friendly against Portugal in Faro, the Dutch FA announced yesterday.
The Galatasaray playmaker lost the captaincy to Robin van Persie two months ago during a tour of Indonesia and China with coach Louis van Gaal saying he should focus on his fitness.
At the time Van Gaal told reporters: “If he (Sneijder) can become fit again then he can battle with other players in the squad. And I expect that an in-form Sneijder will play.”
The 29-year-old Sneijder, who has scored 25 goals in 93 internationals, joined Galatasaray from Inter in this year’s January transfer window and helped them win the Turkish league title but has struggled with form and injuries.
One surprise new call-up to the provisional squad is right-back Paul Verhaegh, of Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.
Verhaegh, who will be 30 on Sept. 1, has played 58 games and scored two goals for the German club since joining in 2010 after 138 games during four successful seasons at Vitesse Arnhem.