Dutch squad recall for van Persie

Arsenal's Robin van Persie received his first Netherlands call-up since August 2004 when Marco van Basten announced his squad for two World Cup qualifiers yesterday.

The Netherlands, leaders in Group One a point above the Czech Republic, will host Romania on June 4 in Rotterdam and travel to Finland four days later.

Van Persie received his first call for the friendly international against Sweden at the start of the season but he has yet to win his first cap.

"Van Persie didn't show enough against Sweden, while he was also hardly playing for his club at that time," van Basten told reporters.

"In the last months he has played many more matches and he also showed form."

Van Basten faces problems in defence with AZ Alkmaar pair Jan Kromkamp and Joris Mathijsen both sidelined for several months, while Khalid Bhoulahrouz, Wilfred Bouma and Andre Ooijer are nursing minor injuries. Therefore, van Basten picked nine defenders including first calls for another Alkmaar pair, Ron Vlaar and Barry Opdam.

"It's difficult in defence because some players are doubtful, while the PSV players still have to play the (Dutch) Cup final (tomorrow) and (Barcelona's Giovanni) van Bronckhorst has one match to go in Spain," said van Basten.

Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart both pulled out injured during a training session with ankle problems but van Basten is hopeful that they will recover in time.