Amsterdam: Tottenham midfielder Edgar Davids may still be in the Netherlands' World Cup squad.
The country's soccer federation denied reports that Davids had been axed, with spokeswoman Anja van Ginhoven saying the veteran midfielder "could still make it."
Coach Marco Van Basten said on Sunday that Davids and five others had only a slim chance of going to the June 9-July 9 tournament in Germany, prompting local media to write off his chances.
The others were Wilfred Bouma, Ron Vlaar, Urby Emanuelson, Patrick Lodewijks and Martijn Meerdink.
Van Basten named a provisional 33-man squad last month, omitting the experienced Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay. Ajax defender Johnny Heitinga was recalled last week to boost the squad to 34, but Van Basten will trim the roster to 23 by May 15.
Third-ranked Netherlands plays exhibitions against Cameroon, Mexico and Australia before the World Cup, where it will meet Serbia-Montenegro, Argentina and Ivory Coast in the first round.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Patrick Lodewijks (Feyenoord), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar).
Defenders: Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (FC Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ), Andre Ooijer (PSV), Barry Opdam (AZ), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord).
Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV), Edgar Davids (Tottenham Hotspur), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg), Denny Landzaat (AZ), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg).
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Martijn Meerdink (AZ), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV).
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