Clasie, Vlaar out of Euro Championship qualifier

Jordy Clasie and Ron Vlaar have pulled out of the Netherlands squad ahead of its first European Championship qualifier (Themba Hadebe/AP)

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — Jordy Clasie and Ron Vlaar have pulled out of the Netherlands squad ahead of its first European Championship qualifier.

The announcement Monday came a day after the Germany-based trio of Arjen Robben, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart all withdrew from Hiddink’s squad for a friendly with Italy on Thursday followed by a Euro 2016 qualifier against the Czech Republic five days later in Prague.

The Dutch football association says Feyenoord midfielder Clasie has a hamstring injury and Aston Villa centre back Vlaar has a calf injury.

Guus Hiddink returns for a second spell in charge of the national side having previously managed the Netherlands between 1994-98.

Hiddink has called up Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk and Paris Saint-Germain’s Gregory van der Wiel as the replacements.

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