The Qantas Socceroos Head Coach has selected an extended 27-player squad for the upcoming international friendly match against the Netherlands on September 6 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier Round 4 match against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Wednesday 10 September.

Covic and North are the only A-League names among the Socceroos squad which also includes Michael Beauchamp, Jacob Burns, Brett Emerton, Brad Jones, Harry Kewell,and Shane Stefanutto. As expected, neither Tim Cahill or Mark Viduka are fit to take their place.

Verbeek said the challenge was out there now for A-League players to prove they were up to the standard to play in this World Cup qualification campaign.

"These two guys are the two who have made an impression on me the last five or six months. I know they can do for a job for us," he said. "It's up to the boys in the A-League now to lift their standards and we will look at them when we are back in Australia for the next games."

Verbeek said he will work out after the game against the Dutch in Eindhoven how many players he will take to Central Asia for the opening match of the second stage of World Cup qualification.

"We have this squad together for the first week in training and before we leave we will work out how many players will take to Tashkent," Verbeek said on Wednesday.

Richard Garcia, who was a late inclusion for the recent friendly against South Africa, has been named after scoring for Hull on the weekend, while Norwegian-based Shane Stefanutto gets a call up. Stefanutto made his debut in 2007 in a friendly against China.

"Games like this are good to see some players," Verbeek said. "Players we haven't had in the camp. Stefanutto is a left player. He was in previous squads. Henk Duut watched him play last weekend. It's a good chance for his to show himself, like we did last time with Garcia."

Coming back into the squad from the 2-2 draw against Bafana Bafana in August are Michael Beauchamp, Jacob Burns, Brett Emerton, Brad Jones, Harry Kewell, Covic, North and Stefanutto.

Verbeek has gone for a European-based feel to his team, leaving out most of the best local players, including Archie Thompson. Adam Federici is the other notable omission from the squad, with Brad Jones and Covic favoured as Mark Schwarzer's understudies. All 27 players have already made their international debut.

The match against the Uzbeks marks the beginning of the second stage of Australia's qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Australia must finish top two in a group which also contains, Japan, Bahrain and Qatar to book an automatic place in that tournament.

Socceroos Squad
Michael BEAUCHAMP Aalborg BK, Denmark
Mark BRESCIANO U.S. Citta di Palermo, Italy
Jacob BURNS FC Unirea Valahorum, Romania
David CARNEY Sheffield United FC, England
Scott CHIPPERFIELD FC Basel, Switzerland
Chris COYNE Colchester United FC, England
Ante COVIC Newcastle Jets, Australia
Jason CULINA PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands
Bruce DJITE Genclerbirligi SK, Turkey
Brett EMERTON Blackburn Rovers, England
Richard GARCIA Hull City FC, England
Vincenzo GRELLA Blackburn Rovers, England
Brett HOLMAN AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands
Brad JONES Middlesbrough FC, England
Josh KENNEDY Karlsruher SC, Germany
Harry KEWELL Galatasaray SK, Turkey
Scott McDONALD Celtic FC, Scotland
Mark MILLIGAN uncontracted
Lucas NEILL West Ham United FC, England
Jade NORTH Newcastle Jets, Australia
Michael PETKOVIC Sivasspor, Turkey
Mark SCHWARZER Fulham FC, England
Matthew SPIRANOVIC FC Nurnberg, Germany
Shane STEFANUTTO FC Lyn Oslo, Norway
Mile STERJOVSKI Derby County FC, England
Carl VALERI U.S. Grosseto FC, Italy
Luke WILKSHIRE Dynamo Moscow, Russia