Vlaar replaces injured Maduro in Dutch squad
Reuters - Tuesday 04 October 2011, 20:14
ROTTERDAM - Netherlands defender Hedwiges Maduro has
pulled out of their Euro 2012 qualifiers against Moldova and
Sweden after injuring his ankle in training on Tuesday and
Feyenoord's Ron Vlaar has been called into the squad, the Dutch
FA (KNVB) said on Tuesday.
Maduro, who was set to replace the injured John Heitinga
(knee) in central defence, follows Maarten Stekelenburg in
leaving Bert van Marwijk's squad this week with the goalkeeper
failing to recover from a head injury suffered two weeks ago.
Stekelenburg suffered a blow to the head playing for AS Roma
against Inter Milan in Serie A and after tests in an Amsterdam
hospital it was decided he should return to Italy for treatment.
Netherlands were already wihout Ibrahim Afellay (knee) and
Wesley Seijder (groin) but have welcomed back Nigel de Jong,
Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart from injury.
Netherlands, who top Group E and have already secured a
place at next year's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, host
Moldova on Friday and play in Sweden four days later.