After having picked up a calf injury on his right leg, Rafael van der Vaart will miss out on the World Cup entirely.
- By Adrian Bucher
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Having already skipped Monday’s training session with the Dutch team in their pre-World Cup camp in Portugal due to a fever, Rafael van der Vaart has been ruled out of this summer’s tournament in Brazil as a result of a calf injury sustained in training, as reported by the Royal Dutch Football Association.
Van der Vaart, 31, was hoping to make coach Louis van Gaal’s final 23-man squad, to be announced on Saturday, and participate in what would have been his third World Cup, having previously taken part in 2006, and 2010’s final defeat to Spain. Of van Gaal’s preliminary squad, the former Ajax man is the most capped player on the roster, featuring 109 times for the national team.
Though van der Vaart had been struggling for form of late with Bundesliga side Hamburger SV (having narrowly avoided relegation) this season, the Heemskerk-native had a fine qualifying campaign with the Oranje, scoring in each of the 5 matches he participated in.
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Devastating news.
Heart breaking.
Wishing him a speedy recovery – and wishing the rest of our lads a miracle now.
My heart literally sank when I heard the news.
I was also a fan of him but seeing him at hamburg i think his best days are left far behind. He should come back to ajax and close his career,while wijnaldum should be given a chance to brazil,maybe not as a first team starter but if he is fully fit and gains match rythm(what he lacked lately) he can add something to this dutch team
What is there to miss about him apart from his caps?
He still and allways be the second after sneijder….same like huntelaar after RVP .
Yes. he got the killer instinct to kill a game sometimes but thats is it. His national duty days was long over.
Guess his injury was expected after his season fitness…injury…he is helping LVG a good excuse not to choose him for the final 23.
He may now flew to a caribbean island with his model wife/GF………for an early summer retreat