Ruud van Nistelrooy has vowed to work hard to win back his place in the Holland squad after being axed for the forthcoming clash with Moldova for disciplinary reasons.
The Manchester United striker infuriated boss Dick Advocaat with a display of petulance after being substituted during the defeat in the Czech Republic last month.
The loss consigned the Dutch to a place in the Euro 2004 qualifying play-offs.
Van Nistelrooy - who regained his penalty taking prowess with his first successful spot-kick in four attempts during United's Champions League defeat in Stuttgart yesterday - says he will accept his punishment and move on.
"I knew it wasn't the appropriate way to react and I went to Dick Advocaat afterwards and apologised," said the former PSV striker.
"But he rang me last week and said he had to leave me out for the next game.
I was disappointed but in the end I know I will be back for the play-offs and we can move on from there.
"I thought an apology would do - on the other hand the reasons he gave me as to why he wasn't putting me in the squad I can understand too.
"That's why I accepted it. We have finished the whole situation now and we can move on."
Van Nistelrooy found little consolation in his successful penalty in Stuttgart and admitted Group E is now wide open.
He added: "The penalty was important for me because being 2-0 down I knew if I could score then we would have a chance.
"But we made a few mistakes and they punished us. Rangers had a good result in Athens and the group is open now. It is an interesting group."