Netherlands coach leaves Ruud van Nistelrooy out of preliminary World Cup roster

Van Nistelrooy left out of Dutch World Cup roster

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Ruud van Nistelrooy has been left off the Netherlands’ preliminary World Cup roster.

Coach Bert van Marwijk said Tuesday the Hamburg forward was now fit but that a long-term absence had ended his chances.

Van Nistelrooy last played for the Oranje at the 2008 European Championship. Though he wanted to play in South Africa, Van Marwijk said he wasn’t at his “normal level” because of a knee injury sustained while playing for Real Madrid.

There are no major surprises in the 30-man roster, which included Liverpool’s Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt, along with John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong and Robin van Persie.

Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder was picked along with Bayern Munich’s Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben.