Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has insisted that veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy could still make the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, despite being omitted from an initial training squad.
"As for Ruud, I'm giving myself until May 11 to decide," Van Marwijk told the De Telegraaf daily newspaper. "I'm leaving him until that date to convince me that he is sufficiently in shape to take part in the World Cup."
Van Marwijk yesterday named a 26-strong squad for a first training camp at Hoenderlo next week. A second camp with those players still involved with their clubs will be held in Austria later this month.