Van Persie considered for central striking role
Reuters - Friday 06 November 2009, 13:20
ZEIST, Netherlands - Arsenal forward Robin van Persie could
be deployed as a central striker for the Netherlands in
friendlies against Italy and Paraguay later this month, coach
Bert van Marwijk said on Friday.
Van Persie has played centrally at the tip of the front
three for Arsenal this season but performed mainly as an
attacking midfielder on the right flank for the Dutch during the
2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
"We have discussed it extensively among the technical staff
but it also is important that the players around him function
well," Van Marwijk told a news conference after announcing a
23-men squad for the matches against Italy in Pescara on November 14
and Paraguay in Heerenveen four days later.
"In my opinion he is not an old fashioned centre forward."
Dirk Kuyt was the first choice as central striker during the
2010 qualifiers but at Liverpool he is used predominantly on the
right wing, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is not a first choice for
new club AC Milan and has yet to score after becoming surplus to
requirements at Real Madrid in the close season.
Van Marwijk has retained Huntelaar is his squad but wants
the striker to be playing regular first-team football.
"I sometimes make exception as you see right now, but
towards the World Cup finals the tension will increase, he
added.
"I always hope that my players are fit, in form and play at
the highest possible level, but if you hardly play for six
months the chance that you will be in the World Cup squad will
be very small."
Midfielder Mark van Bommel returns to the squad after
missing the last four matches with a broken toe, while injured
defender Andre Ooijer is not available.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel
Vorm (Utrecht), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem)
Defenders: John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (SV
Hamburg), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel
(Ajax Amsterdam), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Khalid
Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw
(Ajax Amsterdam), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Ibrahim Afellay
(PSV Eindhoven), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Rafael van
der Vaart (Real Madrid), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), Mark
van Bommel (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal),
Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Eljero Elia (SV Hamburg), Ryan
Babel (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)