Arjen Robben replaces Robin van Persie as Netherlands captain
Friday 28 August 2015 14:06, UK
Arjen Robben will replace Robin van Persie as the Netherlands captain, new coach Danny Blind has confirmed.
The Dutch face European Qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey next week and Blind has given the squad a shake-up with the appointment of the Bayern Munich winger.
"I did not make the choice on the basis of their football quality," Blind said.
"In their guidance and leadership of their team-mates Van Persie and Robben are not inferior to each other. But they have two different personalities.
"And right now I need a leader to be the most prominent on the pitch. I have asked Robin to be vice-captain and am delighted that he has accepted that role," Blind said.
Van Persie had been captain for the last two years, including the World Cup in Brazil last year, taking over in similar circumstances when previous coach Louis van Gaal felt he would be a better leader than Wesley Sneijder, who is still in the Dutch squad.
"I had a good talk with the coach who wanted to choose his own captain. And I've always said Arjen, as did other players," said Van Persie.
Blind succeeded Guus Hiddink as coach and his first game in charge will be next Thursday against Iceland in Amsterdam.
The Dutch then meet Turkey away in Konya three days later as they seek to move from third in the standings into an automatic qualifying berth for next year's finals in France.
Newcastle's Vurnon Anita, who won the last of his two caps for the Netherlands in 2010, returns to the squad and is joined by St James' Park team-mates Tim Krul and Georginio Wijnaldum, Stoke City's Ibrahim Afellay and Manchester United duo Daley Blind and Memphis.
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Jeroen Zoet (PSV)
Defenders: Daley Blind (Manchester United), Jeffrey Bruma (PSV Eindhoven), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Porto), Jairo Riedewald, Kenny Tete (both Ajax), Gregory van der Wiel (Paris St Germain)
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City), Vurnon Anita (Newcastle United), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United)
Forwards: Luuk de Jong (PSV), Memphis (Manchester United), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Luciano Narsingh (PSV), Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Fenerbahce).
