• Home Page
• Asia
• Europe
• U.S.
• World
• World Business
• Technology
• Science & Space
• Entertainment
• World Sport
• Football Update
• Formula 1
• Golf
• Sailing
• Travel
• Weather
• Special Reports
• Video
• I-Reports

CNN Pipeline

 

What's On

 

Art of Life

 

Business Traveller

 

Future Summit

 

Inside the Mideast

 

Principal Voices

 

Quest

 

Revealed

 

Talk Asia

 

Services --------- E-mail Mobile Desktop Alerts RSS AvantGo Make Home Page Ad Info About Us How To Get CNN Partner Hotels

 

Languages --------- Korean Arabic Japanese Spanish Turkish

Davids, Boateng earn Dutch recalls

Davids has been in good form since joining Tottenham during the summer

ZEIST, Netherlands -- Netherlands coach Marco van Basten has recalled Edgar Davids and George Boateng for the World Cup qualifiers away to the Czech Republic and at home to Macedonia.

Tottenham midfielder Davids, who last played against Andorra in November, replaces the suspended Philip Cocu.

The Netherlands top Group One with 28 points and need a draw against the second placed Czech Republic, who have 24 points, to assure their qualification for next year's finals in Germany.

"The absence of Cocu is one of the reasons I chose Davids," said Van Basten. We also still watch Mark van Bommel but we believe that Davids' match mentality is much better."

Davids was dropped after the match in Andorra because the midfielder was not playing regularly for Inter Milan, but the 32-year-old, capped 73 times, has regained form since joining Tottenham.

Van Basten will reduce his squad to 19 players before they travel to Prague to play the Czech Republic.

"The match against the Czechs has two interesting aspects," said Van Basten.

"We can assure our qualification for the World Cup, but we also can see how we do against such a strong opponent and that might be important if you want you play a big role next year in Germany."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg), Ron Vlaar (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Villarreal), Nigel de Jong (Ajax)

Midfielders: Olaf Lindenbergh (Ajax), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Edgar Davids (Tottenham), George Boateng (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Dirk Kuijt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven)

Story Tools

Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time!

Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

Home Page Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.