Injury rules Van der Vaart out of World Cup

Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will miss the World Cup through injury, Dutch media reported on Wednesday. Van der Vaart, who plays his club football with Bundesliga side Hamburg, hurt his right calf at the Netherlands' training camp in Portugal. Following medical tests Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal confirmed Van der Vaart would miss the finals in Brazil, according to Dutch magazine Voetbal International's website. The midfielder's absence likely means Wesley Sneijder will be definitely included in the final 23-man squad despite Van Gaal having previously expressed doubts as to the condition of the Galatasaray playmaker. Sneijder and PSV Eindhoven captain Georginio Wijnaldum are expected to compete for the No.10 role in Brazil. Van der Vaart is the third player to be ruled out of the finals because of injury, joining Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman (knee) and Paris Saint-Germain defender Gregory van der Wiel (tendinitis) on the sidelines. The Dutch are in Group B at the World Cup along with defending champions Spain, Chile and Australia. Source: AFP