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<\/p>\nEnglish based Australians Daniel Bennie and Raphael Borges Rodrigues will get their chance to make a late run for World Cup selection, having been called up by Tony Popovic to join the training pre-camp in Sarasota, Florida \u2013 their first call-ups to the senior national side. <\/p>\n
Queens Park Rangers\u2019 Bennie and Wigan\u2019s Borges Rodrigues, on loan from recently promoted Coventry City, join Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Hayden Matthews (Portsmouth), Anthony Caceres (Macarthur FC), Mitch Duke (Macarthur FC), Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney), Nick D\u2019Agostino (Brisbane Roar), Nishan\u00a0Velupillay\u00a0(Melbourne Victory) and Mathew Leckie (Melbourne City), who are already in camp after their selection last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to the two uncapped youngsters, players who have ended their seasons in Australia, Netherlands and in the English Football League will also head straight to the States.<\/p>\n
The duo will join Cameron Burgess (Swansea City), Mohamed Toure (Norwich City),\u00a0Nestory\u00a0Irankunda\u00a0(Watford),\u00a0Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) and Joe Gauci (Port Vale, on loan from Aston Villa), who have been chosen from the English Football Leagues, while Melbourne City\u2019s Aziz Behich and Patrick Beach\u00a0and Heracles Almelo playmaker Ajdin Hrustic are also selected.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDaniel Bennie\u2019s first Championship goal was a STUNNER<\/p>\n
Bennie joined QPR from Perth Glory ahead of last season after bursting onto the scene in the A-League, featuring in all but two matches in the league following a pre-season goal against Premier League side West Ham.<\/p>\n
After opening his account with the above magnificent strike in the Championship, Bennie\u2019s coach quipped: \u201cHe has scored like this during training sessions and I said at the end of the game \u2018Okay, now you are able to do that as well during the game!\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tough for him. He\u2019s a young player, very good mindset, came on with a lot of intensity and good quality,\u201d Julien Stephan said. <\/p>\n
After struggling to break into the squad for the first half of the season, 2026 has been more productive for the 20-year-old, who has five goals and an assist across all competitions. <\/p>\n
Borges Rodrigues, meanwhile, earns his first call up in the same month his parent club, Coventry, earned promotion to the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Speaking to football360.com.au earlier this season, the former A-League winger, son of former Adelaide United striker Cristiano, said playing for the national team would be a \u2018dream come true\u2019: \u201cI just have to keep working hard, keep playing and hopefully one day that call will come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, at a time Popovic is looking for depth in the right wingback position, Borges Rodrigues has been transformed into that role at times for the League One club.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tAussie young gun Raphael Borges Rodrigues explains how Frank Lampard has \u2018helped\u2019 since he landed at Coventry City.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m enjoying playing as a wing-back,\u201d he told\u00a0football360.com.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf in the future I need to go to a club or with a manager that plays five at the back, then it\u2019s good to have this year of experience that I\u2019m doing now under my belt.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just kind of taking it as a learning experience and adding it to my game for the future if I do need it.\u201d<\/p>\n READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE <\/a><\/p>\n Of the A-League contingent, it is a second batch of players called that does not include in form Melbourne City flyer Marcus Younis, however this squad will continue to be added to in the coming days and weeks as Popovic refines his selection down to 26 players by the 1 June cut-off.<\/p>\n Last week, speaking to Australian media, the Socceroos boss outlined how this camp is both an opportunity for the likes of A-League based players to put their case forward and maintain fitness while their seasons are finished, while also giving players who have had arduous seasons some extra time to recover.<\/p>\n Decisions on selections will loom large as the build-up to the June 1 deadline continues, with the final hit-out prior against Mexico at Los Angeles\u2019 famous Rose Bowl Stadium on May 30. <\/p>\n LONG READ: Popa picks out two Aussies who \u2018illustrate the World Cup is on another level\u2019, praises \u2018one of the success stories\u2019 of his tenure<\/a><\/p>\n ANALYSIS:\u00a0Six words that show Popovic wants to pick Leckie: so who misses out and where does he play?<\/a><\/p>\n DEFENDER:\u00a0Popovic explains trait \u2018you can\u2019t buy\u2019 that has Souttar primed for World Cup deja vu<\/a><\/p>\n VETERAN:\u00a0The reason behind Leckie\u2019s shock Socceroos call: \u2018A young player can\u2019t do that\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n EXPLAINED:\u00a0Why Younis was NOT in list for Socceroos\u2019 World Cup pre-camp \u2013 and could still be picked<\/a><\/p>\n
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