Gregory van der Wiel was on the field for every minute of the Netherlands' successful UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign and will complete his third season as the Oranje's right-back at the finals in Poland and Ukraine. An Eredivisie title winner with AFC Ajax in 2010/11 and 2011/12, he is one of Europe's most sought-after defenders.

• Born and raised in Amsterdam, Van der Wiel joined the club's renowned academy as a schoolboy and graduated to the first team, making his top-flight debut in a 4-1 win at FC Twente on 11 March 2007.

• Switched from central defence to become the regular Ajax right-back under coach Marco van Basten during the 2008/09 season, making 32 league appearances and earning his first cap for the Netherlands in a friendly against Tunisia.

• Ever-present for Ajax in their 2009/10 Eredivisie runners-up campaign under new coach Martin Jol and also collected his first major trophy after the 6-1 aggregate victory over Feyenoord in the Dutch Cup final; named Dutch young player of the year.

• Established himself as first-choice right-back in Bert van Marwijk's Oranje side that qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a perfect record and then reached the final. The Netherlands' youngest squad member in South Africa, he started five matches, being rested for the last group game and missing the semi-final victory against Uruguay through suspension.

• Scored his first UEFA Champions League goal during Ajax's 4-0 home win against GNK Dinamo Zagreb on matchday four of the 2011/12 season.