The Hague: Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has finalised his 23-man World Cup squad by dropping four players.
The Dutch football association said Thursday that Vurnon Anita of Ajax and Ron Vlaar of Feyenoord, and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Orlando Engelaar and AZ Alkmaar forward Jeremain Lens have been cut.
Van Marwijk was set to formally announce his final squad later on Thursday in Austria, where the team is training.
Anita's omission came just a day after he made his international debut as a second-half substitute during the Netherlands 2-1 win over Mexico in a warm-up match in Germany.
Vlaar forced his way into the preliminary squad with a strong season for Feyenoord but was considered a long shot to go to South Africa and has missed much of the training camp in Austria through injury.
Lens also was a surprise inclusion in the original squad and was competing for a spot in the final squad with the far more experienced Ryan Babel of Liverpool.
Of the four players sent home on the eve of the World Cup, only Engelaar had experience at a major tournament — he was in the 2008 European Championship squad.
The Netherlands will play in Group E with Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.
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