Dutch name Babel, Makaay to Olympic squad

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By Stefan Coerts, Special to SI.com, Goal.com

Dutch coach Foppe de Haan named his 18 players for the Olympics on Tuesday, and Liverpool's Ryan Babel is one of them. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez told the winger earlier not to go because it might ruin his chances of being a first-team regular.

Babel was expected to be one of the stars of Euro 2008, but suffered an ankle injury that held him out of the tournament. However, he recovered from the injury in time to make it to the Olympics.

Other stars in the Dutch Olympic squad are Real Madrid ace Royston Drenthe, Evander Sno from Celtic, Ajax youngster Urby Emanuelson and Valecia midfielder Hedwiges Maduro.

PSV rebel Ismail Aissati was left out of the final team, as well as Feyenoord playmaker Luigi Bruins and Middlesborough signing Marvin Emnes.

Roy Makaay, Gerald Sibon and Kew Jaliens were selected as the three over-age players.

Netherlands' Olympics Squad:

Goalkeepers: Kenneth Vermeer, Piet Velthuizen

Defenders: Kew Jaliens, Calvin Jong-a-Pin, Kees Luijkcx, Dirk Marcellis, Erik Pieters, Gianni Zuiverloon

Midfielders: Otman Bakkal, Urby Emanuelson, Jonathan de Guzman, Hedwiges Maduro, Evander Sno

Forwards: Roy Beerens, Ryan Babel, Royston Drenthe, Roy Makaay, Gerald Sibon.