De Haan freshens Jong Oranje

Netherlands Under-21 coach Foppe de Haan has called up four new faces into his squad to face F.Y.R. Macedonia as the Jong Oranje kick off the defence of their UEFA European Under-21 Championship title next Wednesday.

New faces
The Netherlands reclaimed their crown with a 4-1 win against Serbia in June and De Haan travels to Skopje looking to pick up from where he left off in Groningen. In come Piet Velthuizen, Gregory van der Wiel, Nordin Amrabat and Rydell Poepon, who could all make their debuts, while Evander Sno, Kees Luijckx, Jens Janse and Eljero Elia are recalled after missing out during the summer.

Old hands
Royston Drenthe remains with the Under-21s following his move to Real Madrid CF, as do Kenneth Vermeer, Ryan Donk, Calvin Jong-A-Pin, Erik Pieters, Gianni Zuiverloon, Ismaïl Aissati, Luigi Bruins, Roy Beerens and Tim Janssen who all featured in June. Although the likes of Ryan Babel, Maceo Rigters and Ron Vlaar are no longer eligible, De Haan is looking to the future with confidence.

'Highest level'
"A few are too old, but we have a few other boys and there will be no problem," De Haan told uefa.com. "A lot of those young boys are playing in the first team for Dutch sides now so that is much easier. When they play in the second team or the third division then they don't have a lot of experience but they are already playing at the highest level so it is easier to work with them. The Dutch Under-21s is a good platform. It's important. All the guys want to play because they see what's happening now."

Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Kenneth Vermeer (Willem II), Piet Velthuizen (BV Vitesse).

Defenders: Ryan Donk (AZ Alkmaar), Jens Janse (Willem II), Calvin Jong-A-Pin (SC Heerenveen), Erik Pieters (FC Utrecht), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax), Gianni Zuiverloon (SC Heerenveen).

Midfielders: Ismaïl Aissati (PSV Eindhoven), Luigi Bruins (Feyenoord), Royston Drenthe (Real Madrid CF), Kees Luijckx (SC Excelsior), Evander Sno (Celtic FC).

Attackers: Nordin Amrabat (VVV Venlo), Roy Beerens (SC Heerenveen), Eljero Elia (FC Twente), Tim Janssen (RKC Waalwijk), Rydell Poepon (Willem II).