Position: Defender
Born: 08.11.78
Club: AZ Alkmaar

Tim de Cler joined AZ Alkmaar in 2002 after making his senior debut with Ajax in 1997 and has gone on to play over 200 times in the Dutch Eredivisie.

That experience stood him in good stead when he made his debut for his country last August in a 2-2 friendly draw with Germany in Rotterdam although he remains on the fringes at international level.

A member of the AZ Alkmaar side that reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup last season, de Cler won the bronze shoe this year after he was voted the third most valuable player in Holland behind Dirk Kuyt and Phillip Cocu.

Likely to start the tournament on the bench, the 27-year-old is a defender who Marco van Basten can rely on if needed.