THE CANADIAN PRESS
AMSTERDAM — Canadian Jonathan de Guzman has been included in the provisional Dutch squad for a soccer friendly against Euro 2008 co-host Austria later this month.
The uncapped 20-year-old Feyenoord midfielder was born in Toronto but moved to the Netherlands to play soccer when he was 12 and got his Dutch passport last month.
“I have been looking forward to this,” de Guzman was quoted on the uefa.com website. “I have been in the Netherlands since 2000 and already I feel very close to this country. I am available for the national team and consider it as a huge honour.”
De Guzman’s older brother Julian, who has won 28 caps for Canada, plays his club soccer in Spain for Deportivo La Coruna.
Dutch coach Marco van Basten will trim his provisional 29-man squad five days ahead of the March 26 Austria game.
Jonathan de Guzman joins the likes of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar of Manchester United, midfielders Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan and Wesley Sneijder of Real Madrid, and strikers Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt of Liverpool, Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real Madrid, Robin van Persie of Arsenal, and Celtic’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on the Dutch squad.
He is the highest-profile Canadian-born player to choose another flag since Calgary-born midfielder Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United) opted to play for England. Hargreaves qualifies for England via his father.
Julian de Guzman’s immediate concern is a league match with Real Madrid. According to the player’s website (http://www.enblanquiazul.org/deguzman/news.php), a goal would be welcome. “If I score again against Real Madrid, I can go a year without sex,” the 26-year-old de Guzman was quoted as saying.