"We have always said we are only interested in players who want to play for us, and because of that we are not going to ask them," he said.

Verbeek and FFA have been criticised for not making contact with promising Australian-eligible players who are weighing up which country they want to represent, including Williams and Liverpool reserve Dean Bouzanis. But Verbeek is adamant that it is up to the player to make themselves available, and not up to the FFA or himself to ask.

Verbeek and his two assistants Graham Arnold and Henk Duut have spent much of the past two weeks travelling throughout Europe and Asia visiting potential Socceroos overseas to assess their progress. Rhys Williams, having made the call to play for Australia, is now on the radar for June's three World Cup qualifiers against Qatar, Bahrain and Japan, with defensive stalwart Craig Moore injured.

"He (Williams) is playing right full back, he can play as a central defender. It's always interesting to have players who can play in several positions. They are ideal players. He has the experience. He's young and his willing, but I have more players like that. He's an interesting player."

When asked about Sydney-born striker Richard Porta, a Portuguese-based player who is also eligible to play for Uruguay, Verbeek said he had not been in contact with him.

"No. He never let us know that he wants to play for us. Rhys Williams could find us, so I think you can call FFA and that's the story," he said.