Injury-hit Netherlands faces Iceland in qualifier

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has a patched-up defense, a forward line missing three key players and a goalkeeper hauled out of retirement for his team's World Cup qualifier against Iceland. The lengthy Dutch injury list makes somber reading for fans ahead of Saturday's match in Rotterdam's De Kuip stadium. Forwards Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink are all injured, along with defenders John Heitinga, Wilfried Bouma and Khalid Boulharouz. Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has also been ruled out. Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder is back in the Dutch squad after recovering recently from a knee injury, but his club has told Van Marwijk that Sneijder shouldn't play. "I want to play, but there is a clear agreement," Sneijder told national broadcaster NOS. "Most likely, I won't play Saturday."... [read full story]