GEORGE Boateng has paid a heavy price for his sub-standard showing in last week's UEFA Cup final after Marco Van Basten axed the Middlesbrough midfielder from Holland's World Cup squad.

Van Basten, the Dutch national coach, watched Boateng in action on Wednesday night as the former Feyenoord midfielder returned to his homeland to take on Sevilla in Eindhoven's Philips Stadion.

It was not a happy homecoming as Boateng failed to keep tabs on the Spanish side's midfield creators, and Van Basten is understood to have been under-whelmed by his compatriot's performance.

His response was to drop the 31-year-old from his World Cup plans by leaving him out of the final 23-man squad he announced to the Dutch media yesterday.

Boateng was one of five players to have been axed from the provisional 28-man party Van Basten named at the start of last week.

The news will come as a major blow to Boateng, who had spoken extensively of his desire to end his international career at this summer's World Cup.

The snub could also be bad news for Middlesbrough, as it is likely to strengthen the midfielder's desire to move to a higher-profile club this summer.

Boateng's current contract is due to expire next month and, while initial talks over a new deal have taken place, the Dutchman is understood to be unhappy with the terms Boro have offered.

Chairman Steve Gibson recently claimed he did not know why he was stalling on signing a new deal but, unless the two parties alter their current bargaining positions, an agreement seems unlikely.

Boateng has been linked with a possible return to Holland, a move that would help to keep his international career alive.

Italian giants AC Milan have also been monitoring his position and, with Middlesbrough now unable to offer European football next season, the prospects of him remaining at the Riverside appear bleak.

Holland World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Van der Sar (Man Utd), Stekelenburg (Ajax), Timmer (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Boulahrouz (Hamburg), van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Kromkamp (Liverpool), Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Heitinga (Ajax)

Midfielders: van Bommel (Barcelona), Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Maduro (Ajax), Sneijder (Ajax), van Der Vaart (Hamburg)

Strikers: Babel (Ajax), Kuyt (Feyenoord), van Nistelrooy (Man Utd), van Persie (Arsenal), Robben (Chelsea), Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven)

* Motherwell manager Terry Butcher admits only a disaster could now stop him becoming Sydney FC coach.

The former England captain is to make the switch after spending the last few days speaking with club officials.

Butcher said: ''I am now on the verge of putting pen to paper on a deal to take over as the new coach of Sydney FC.

''Everything would have to go disastrously wrong for me not to complete the deal."