After the Netherlands' elimination from Euro 2008 Edwin Van Der
Sar decided to bow out from the international fold after
accumulating a mammoth 128 caps, but always stated that should head
coach Bert van Marwijk need the veteran 'keeper, then he would make
a return.
Ajax glovesman Maarten Stekelenburg has been ruled out of the
upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Norway on October
11 and October 15 respectively due to injury, and this paved the
way for the United stopper to make a sensational return to the
international arena.
"This is great," Van Marwijk is quoted by ESPN as saying as he
revealed his latest Dutch squad. "Edwin is someone from another
level, he is above all others. He will start both games."
"We deliberated with the technical staff on Wednesday and came to
the conclusion we had to call Edwin... After that, Frank de Boer
and I contacted Edwin and in the evening he called us back with the
good news."
"It gave him something of a shock, yes. But he felt mostly
flattered. He took some time to think about it and I am happy with
his decision."