Jonker still meeting with all expected World Cup players in Zeist

With all the players he had expected, national coach Andries Jonker has begun preparation for the World Cup that begins in a month in Australia and New Zealand.

Some foreign clubs threatened not to release their players as early as today in protest at the full schedule, but they eventually backed down.

Jonker is nevertheless still missing five forces. Jill Roord, Dominique Janssen and Lynn Wilms do not have to report to Zeist until later because they were still with VfL Wolfsburg in the final of the Champions League in early June.

Lineth Beerensteyn and Wieke Kaptein also arrived later. The former was still playing the Italian Cup final with Juventus, while the FC Twente midfielder is ill.

Orange will be in action for the first time at the World Championships on July 23. Then Portugal will be the opponent in Dunedin, New Zealand.