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Robben withdraws from Dutch squad

Xinhua, September 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Arjen Robben and Bruno Martins Indi withdrew from the Netherlands squad for the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey, with Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk and Sunderland forward Jeremain Lens being called up as replacements on Friday.

During Thursday's match against Iceland in Amsterdam (1-0 loss) Robben limped off after 25 minutes with a groin injury and Martins Indi was sent off for hitting Iceland striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson. The latter is suspended for the match against Turkey.

Lens and Van Dijk reported for training in Amstelveen on Friday and will travel with the squad to Turkey later on Friday. The match in Konya is crucial for both countries in their race for the third place in Group A.

Iceland are now topping Group A with 18 points from seven matches, followed by Czech Republic (16), the Netherlands (10) and Turkey (9). The nine group winners, the nine group runners-up and the best third-placed team qualify directly for the final tournament and the eight remaining third-placed teams will contest in play-offs to determine the last four qualifiers for the finals in France.

In the other matches in Group A on September 6 Iceland play at home to Kazakhstan and Czech Republic play away against Latvia. Endi