The Dutch team that made it into the World Cup finals has received a hero's welcome in Netherlands despite not winning the tournament itself. "FINALS!" screams the front page of the popular Telegraaf daily with a picture of a roaring lion, the Dutch national symbol, and a half-page action shot of the third goal scored by winger Arjen Robben.

"Oranje (the team's nickname) smells gold," it continued.

"Finally, icons for our couch potato generation," said the NRC Next daily with a big picture of Robben celebrating his goal.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has named his final 23-man squad for this summer's World Cup, with five Premier League players making it onto the plane for South Africa.

Liverpool strikers Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt join Arsenal's Robin van Persie, Manchester City's Nigel de Jong and John Heitinga from Everton in making the final cut.

Celtic's Edson Braafheid also made the final squad, announced well before the June 1st deadline set by Fifa.

High profile omissions include Hamburg's Ruud van Nistelrooy and PSV's Orlando Engelaar.

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Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk expressed optimism on Friday that striker Robin van Persie will be ready for the World Cup in South Africa starting on June 11.

"I don't worry about Robin as I spoke with him two weeks ago and he made a cheery impression and expected to be back in April," Van Marwijk told a news conference at which he announced his 23-man squad for Wednesday's friendly against the United States.

Van Persie, 26, has not played since an operation on his right ankle after he was injured in a friendly international against Italy last November.