Jaap Stam and Marc Overmars have been forced out of the Netherland's World Cup qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday through injury.
Manchester United defender Stam pulled a hamstring on Saturday against West Ham, while Overmars - part of a £30 million transfer along with Emmanuel Petit to Barcelona this summer from Arsenal - has been struggling with a knee injury. The Irish were already facing a Dutch side shorn of midfielders Boudejiwn Zenden (hamstring) and Edgar Davids, who is still recovering from an operation on his leg.
Dutch boss Louis van Gaal has called two Heerenveen players, winger Jeffrey Talan and defender Anthony Lurling, into the side.
Lurling has not been capped by the Dutch although he has played for the Under-21 side.
Meanwhile Zenden is on the verge of signing for Italian Serie A side Lazio. The Italian club have sent a representative to Barcelona in a bid to conclude negotiations with the Catalan club for the 24-year-old.
According to reports the player's agent has given the Italian club two days to conclude the deal.
Zenden has always said that he would only leave the Catalan side for a move to Rome. He is under contract with Barcelona until June 30th, 2004.
Lazio's Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson is keen to acquire the services of the midfielder, who recently picked up a right calf injury during a friendly against Malaga.
Meanwhile, Brazilian defender Cafu will once again lead the national side as captain in their World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
According to Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) sources, national coach Wanderley Luxemburgo decided to give the AS Roma player the post he lost after being sent off during their 2-1 defeat to Paraguay in July.
Cafu left the Brazilian camp immediately much to the annoyance of his teammates.
However, his successor and AS Roma team-mate Antonio Carlos was also subject to criticism following a heavy 3-0 defeat to Chile on August 16th.
