Robben, Janssen to miss qualifiers

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and FC Twente midfielder Theo Janssen have withdrawn from the Netherlands squad to play two Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Robben and Janssen had both been named in Bert van Marwijk’s 23-man squad to face Hungary in two European Championship qualifiers on Friday and next Tuesday, but withdrew on Monday due to injury.Janssen scored two goals in Twente’s 2-0 win over Excelsior on Sunday but was visibly hindered by a knee injury, while Robben was forced out because of a groin complaint.Van Marwijk has not yet called up any replacements, but Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy – left out of the original squad – is unlikely to be an option.For Hungary, 34-year-old Attila Tokoli will look to make the most of his second chance in the national team as a replacement for Mainz forward Adam Szalai, who is out with a knee injury.Hungary are three points behind the Group E-leading Netherlands in the qualification standings, but manager Sandor Egervari is confident Tokoli can do the job.”He has such an instinct for timing his runs that I know I can rely on him against the Netherlands,” said Egervari.Hungary host the Netherlands in Budapest on Friday, with the return fixture to be played in Amsterdam four days later.Netherlands squad: Goalkeepers: Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Jelle ten Rouwelaar (NAC Breda), Sander Boschker (FC Twente). Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax). Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia CF), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (FC Utrecht), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham). Forwards: Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal).Hungary squad: Goalkeepers: Gabor Kiraly (TSV 1860 Munich), Marton Fulop (Ipswich Town) Adam Bogdan (Bolton Wanderers). Defenders: Pal Lazar (Videoton), Zoltan Liptak (Videoton), Vilmos Vanczak (FC Sion), Roland Juhasz (RSC Anderlecht), Zsolt Laczko (UC Sampdoria), Adam Pinter (Real Zaragoza). Midfielders: Vladimir Koman (UC Sampdoria), Jozsef Varga (Debreceni VSC), Zoltan Gera (Fulham), Tamas Hajnal (VfB Stuttgart), Peter Czvitkovics (Debreceni VSC), Akos Elek (Videoton), Krisztian Vadocz (Osasuna), Balazs Dzsudzsak (PSV Eindhoven). Forwards: Attila Tokoli (Kecskemeti TE), Gergely Rudolf (Bari), Tamas Priskin (Ipswich Town).

Mon 21 March, 2011