In big loss for Dutch, midfielder Keven Strootman likely to miss World Cup with knee injury

AMSTERDAM – In a severe blow to the Netherlands' World Cup hopes, midfielder Kevin Strootman looks certain to miss the World Cup because of a serious knee injury.

AS Roma says the 24-year-old player will have surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Sunday's 1-0 loss at Napoli.

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal says the news "is terrible for Kevin. I can imagine his world is falling apart at the moment." He adds that Strootman's loss is also a "blood-letting for the Netherlands team."

Strootman has played 25 times for the Dutch national team, scoring three times. He was one of only a handful of players virtually guaranteed a place on Van Gaal's World Cup squad.