Rafael van der Vaart profile
The gifted attacker quit Ajax last summer for Hamburg and his early efforts were positive as he guided the club into a challenging position in the Bundesliga and impressed club officials.
"Technically, he's great to watch and a true battler. He goes into the penalty area and tries to finish off moves with goals."
HSV director of sport Didi Beiersdorfer
However, he was stopped in his tracks in early December by an ankle injury which kept him on the sidelines until March.
Van der Vaart secured some valuable match sharpness in the final weeks of the season and will at least be going into the tournament fresher than most.
The attacking midfielder appeared bound for greatness from a young age, as he shone at all levels for Ajax and the Netherlands.
He made his full debut for the Oranje in October 2001 and has been a fixture for his country ever since.
The powerful presence of players such as Philip Cocu and George Boateng gives van der Vaart licence to create and if he finds his stride, the Dutch could take some stopping this summer.
