A court in Amsterdam on Tuesday threw out Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou's appeal for a fast-track Dutch citizenship, leaving him unable to join the Dutchsquad for this summer's World Cup.

A judge at the Netherlands' highest administrative court said there were "no special grounds" to grant citizenship to Kalou, a native of Cote d'Ivoire, Dutch media reported.

Dutch Immigration and Naturalization minister Rita Verdonk earlier turned down the player's request for accelerated naturalization.

With 20 league goals in the Dutch first division this season, Kalou would be an asset to any international squad, and after three years at Feyenoord he is keen to commit himself to the Dutch national team.

Having already turned down Cote d'Ivoire, Kalou's last hope to play in next month's World Cup is to pass a mandatory Dutch citizenship test. He failed the first part of the exam in November.

The first chance Salomon would have to undertake the test againwould be on Wednesday. He would be required to take another part some weeks later.

Verdonk and Kalou engaged in a very public battle earlier this year following her decision not to fast-track his application. Sheruled he has to pass the naturalization exam before he can be granted a Dutch passport.

Getting the court to overturn Verdonk's decision was Kalou's last chance to play for the Dutch in the World Cup. National coach Marco van Basten indicated there would be a place for the 20-year-old in the squad should he become eligible on time.

Verdonk could have granted Kalou a Dutch passport on the basis of his status as a leading sportsman. Van Basten and Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff urged her to do so but she decided there was no substantial gain in granting him fast-track naturalization.

Kalou's lawyer Jelle Kroes said his client could "in theory" still take part in the World Cup, playing for his native country'steam. "But Kalou is not even considering this," Kroes said.

The Netherlands play their second group match of the World Cup against Cote d'Ivoire on 16 June. Kalou's brother, Bonaventure, isa key player for Cote d'Ivoire.