The Netherlands and France unveil World Cup squads

THE HAGUE

The Netherlands coach, Louis van Gaal, has called up Galatasaray's Wesley Sneijder and Fenerbahce's inside forward Dirk Kuyt for national duty at the 2014 FIFA World Cup taking place in Brazil this summer.

In addition, star striker Robin van Persie and winger Arjen Robben have been called upon to play for "Oranje", who as part of their world cup preparations will play Ecuador May 17 in a friendly and then go to Portugal for a 12 day preparation camp before two more friendlies against Ghana and Wales.

The Netherlands in Group B will compete against Spain, Chile and Australia to get through to the second round of the World Cup.

The Netherlands World Cup squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Jeroen Zoet (PSV) Michel Vorm (Swansea City)

Defenders: Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse), Daley Blind, Joel Veltman (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij, Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Karim Rekik (PSV), Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg) Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa)  

Midfielders: Jordy Clasie, Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Quincy Promes (FC Twente), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg) Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV)

Forwards: Jean-Paul Boetius (Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (PSV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dinamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United) Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich). 

Les bleus World Cup squad announced

French national football coach, Didier Deschamps, has also announced his team for the football world cup.

However, he left out Manchester City’s Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy, as well as Monaco’s Eric Abidal, who has now quit national football.

Deschamps has said on TF1, a French TV channel that Manchester City regular, Nasri, has not performed well enough for France to be selected.

France will embark on a series of friendly matches against Norway, Paraguay and Jamaica before heading to the World Cup where they will take on Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E.

France’s squad for the World Cup is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille), Mickaël Landreau (Bastia)

Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle United), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint-Germain), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Clément Grenier (Olympique Lyonnais), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rio Mavuba (Lille), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United), Mathieu Valbuena (Olympique de Marseille)

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Real Sociedad), Loic Remy (Newcastle United), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Reserves in national pool: Stephane Ruffier (Monaco), Loic Perrin (Saint-Etienne), Maxime Gonalons (Olympique Lyonnais), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton), Benoit Tremoulinas (Dinamo Kiev), Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyonnais), Remy Cabella (Montpellier).

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