Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, top-scorer in Holland, has been left out of the Dutch squad for the World Cup.

The free-scoring forward, who has netted more than 50 goals in all competitions for Heerenveen and Ajax this season, did not make Marco van Basten's 23-man squad for the summer tournament in Germany.

Recent comments from Van Basten had suggested that Huntelaar might get the nod despite being an international novice but in the end the coach decided against it.

Van Basten's squad is notable also for the inclusion of Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel despite a mediocre club season, although the omission of Edgar Davids was more expected.

The inclusion of Ajax defender John Heitinga is also something of a surprise as is the decision to pick Jan Kromkamp.

After naming his squad, van Basten challenged Huntelaar to prove he was wrong to omit him.

Van Basten was the first to admit that the 22-year-old Huntelaar could consider himself unfortunate.

The coach said: "He (Huntelaar) has bad luck with us as technical staff. We just select players in this way. I have said this from the start."

Van Basten was full of praise for Huntelaar's attitude and admitted he might be left with egg on his face if the striker scores goals for the Under-21 side in the European Championships for that age group in Portugal this summer.

"He is a cheerful, funny, balanced guy who did well during the training camp," said Van Basten. "But four strikers is too much and that is his bad luck.

"But he can focus now on playing the EC in Portugal with Jong Oranje and he can show us there that we did not do the right thing."

Van Basten also had words of consolation for AZ Alkmaar defender Barry Opdam and Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, who also did not make the final cut.

"I called Barry to tell him the news," said Van Basten.

"He was naturally disappointed and we understand that but in our opinion he has not done too well in the last months and (Ajax defender) John Heitinga was doing better and better in that same period.

"George [Boateng] played a good season but Wesley Sneijder made a good impression on us and we decided to select him instead."

The selection Kromkamp after a less than impressive season with Valencia and then Liverpool also raised eyebrows.

Van Basten said: "Although Jan played less games than we hoped for - we want to have two players for all positions and he did very well at Oranje when he played."

Van Basten had wanted to take Feyenoord's Salomon Kalou to Germany but a court ruled that the Ivory Coast-born player did not qualify.

Had the court ruled in favour of Kalou he would have likely faced his brother Bonaventure who is expected to be a starter for the Ivory Coast.

Squad: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar); Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven); Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro, Wesley Sneijder (both Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg); Ryan Babel (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven).