Dirk Kuyt has revealed his shock at losing Liverpool team-mate Ryan Babel from Holland's Euro 2008 squad.

And the Anfield striker relived the moment when teenager Babel knew his dreams of playing in the finals were over.

Babel tore ankle ligaments in training with Holland on Saturday, and boss Marco van Basten believes he will be out for 'five to seven weeks'.

Kuyt, speaking after playing for Holland against Wales in Rotterdam yesterday, said: 'It is a terrible blow for Ryan, and a real shock for all of us.

'The feeling in the camp was that it was quite a bad injury. And it happened without any contact with anyone else, he went down in training as he was running.

'He switched from left to right with the ball and his leg just buckled under him. There was a loud noise, we felt at first it might have been broken, everyone heard it.

'It is really sad for him and hopefully he will recover as quick as possible to be back at Liverpool next season from the start.

'He is young, and there will be other tournaments. But that is not the way to think, you want to be playing in every big tournament you can during your career.'

If Babel cannot start running again for seven weeks, he will miss the bulk of Liverpool's pre-season training camp in Switzerland next month.

That would mean he would be playing catch-up with his fitness levels and is unlikely to be ready for the Barclays Premier League opener on August 9.

Problems over his availability have not been helped by suggestions in Holland he could figure in the Olympics, which start on August 6.

Holland's Olympic coach Foppe de Haan said: 'If Ryan is fit, he will be at the top of our list for the Olympics. With his qualities, Ryan is a vital player for our plans.'

Liverpool, who could not stop Babel going to the Olympics if selected, would certainly have something to say about his fitness as he recovers from such a bad injury.

Kuyt certainly does not expect his club and country colleague to make a rapid recovery.

He said: 'I feel very sorry for what has happened to Ryan. He has trained really well and looked very good as the tournament approached.

'It is very disappointing for us, and obviously for him, that he is out. It is a big tournament, and he would have been very important for us.

'And, of course, also at Liverpool. Hopefully he will be fit for the beginning of the season, but we will have to wait and see about that.

'All I can say is that I want him to be back as quick as possible. I have left a message on his phone wishing him well, he was clearly very upset about what had happened.

'I just told him how sorry I was that he was missing the European finals and to get himself back as quick as he could.'

Kuyt believes Babel would have been a key part of Holland's tactics, in a similar way to how Anfield boss Rafael Benitez used him last term.

He said: 'He has shown how important he was for Liverpool, coming on so often as substitute and scoring really important goals.

'Maybe Holland would have used him in the same way. He did so well during the Champions League for us, it was obvious what he could give to a team.

'Maybe for now he is a 'shock' from the bench. But he has improved over the season and now he is very important for Liverpool and Holland.

'Ryan has a great future for himself in the game, people have seen how much he has improved this season and soon he will be playing a key role for his club and country from the start of games.

'Hopefully, he will be back really soon because he is only going to get better and better.'

Kuyt, who scored in Holland's win a week ago against Ukraine but has been used as a substitute against Denmark and Wales since, is pleased with his own contribution so far, ahead of Holland's opener against Italy in Berne next Monday.

He said: 'We have had two very tough weeks, training twice a day, and playing three difficult friendly games.

'We wanted to score more against Wales, but they made it hard for us. We had also drawn with Denmark, but maybe we are saving the goals for the finals. We missed some, but we created a lot of chances and we have quality players who will score goals in that situation.

'Whether I start the first match against Italy, we will see, after being only a substitute against Wales. But I have been pleased with my performances, I tried to do my best and I have been happy.

'But we have some very strong players up front: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie, so it will be tough to get myself past them. But I will try my best.