Van Marwijk rules out Oranje place for Van Nistelrooy at Euro 2012

06-Apr-2012 3:19:00 PM

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid ace has been told that he will not travel to Poland and Ukraine, something he seems to have come to terms with

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has revealed that Malaga striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will not make the Oranje squad for the European Championship.

The 35-year-old forward has been in disappointing form for the Spanish club, and with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, it has been suggested he could hang up his boots in the summer.

"I wanted to inform Ruud at an early stage," Van Marwijk told Algemeen Dagblad. "You cannot tell a player of his stature something like this in May.

"We had a clear agreement that he was still a candidate for the Euro 2012 squad until I contacted him to tell him the bad news.

"I called him to inform him that he will not be traveling to Poland and Ukraine."

Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 35 goals in 70 appearances for his country, admitted he was not surprised by the decision and thanked the coach for his sincerity.

"The coach has explained it pretty well," the former Manchester United striker said. "I understood his decision when he told me that it was over. I already expected it.

"I am not always a starter at Malaga, so you know Oranje is going to be a difficult story.

"Van Marwijk treated me very well. He has always been very clear. He knew that I had not given up on Oranje yet, so it's a good thing that he got in touch with tell me it is all over."

Netherlands have been drawn with Portugal, Germany and Denmark in their Euro 2012 group.