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First Netherlands XI without 'Van' since 1996

Robin van Persie is suspended for the Netherlands' Group B match against Chile © Getty Images

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The Netherlands are set to field a team without a player whose surname begins with 'Van' for the first time since 1996.

Robin van Persie has kept the run going over the Netherlands' last two World Cup games, but his yellow card against Australia - his second of the tournament - means he will sit out Monday's Group B clash with Chile.

The last time the Netherlands started a game without a player whose surname begins with 'Van' was in a friendly against China on May 29, 1996 - some 221 matches ago, according to Dutch daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

The last game the Dutch played in a World Cup without a 'Van' was in 1994, with the side losing a group match against Belgium - although the Netherlands' opponents did start with Franky van der Elst in their XI.

Rafael van der Vaart was set for a place in Louis van Gaal's World Cup squad, only for injury to rule him out of the tournament in Brazil. Gregory van der Wiel, who played in the 2010 final defeat against Spain, was left out because of poor form.

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