Top 5 bolters plucked from obscurity

After Australia coach Ange Postecoglou's recent selections of relative-unknowns, James Meredith and Alex Cisak, The World Game decided it was time to go back through history and uncover some of the biggest bolters in football.

Ryan Bertrand during UCL Final in 2012 Source: Getty Images

1. Richard Garcia - Socceroos 2010 FIFA World Cup

While it has just been confirmed the 34 year-old will captain Perth Glory this season, it was his selection in the 2010 FIFA World squad that raised eyebrows. Garcia was playing for Hull City at the time but was given a tough assignment for his World Cup starting debut - a match-up with Germany that ended in a crushing 4-0 defeat for the Socceroos.

2. Ryan Bertrand - Chelsea 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League Final

The current Southampton defender, made headlines after making his European debut in Chelsea's triumphant shootout victory over Bayern Munich in the 2012 UCL final. Bertrand became the first player in the Champions League era to debut in a final.  Not a bad start to your European career!

3. Sir Geoff Hurst - England 1966 FIFA World Cup Final

The now 73 year-old only made his national debut in the same year as the 1966 World Cup but unfortunately produced mediocre performances during warm-up games, leading up to the cup. So when Jimmy Greaves returned from injury ahead of the final, it was widely expected he would replace the relatively-unknown Hurst, but the manager's faith in the then 24 year-old paid off with Hurst scoring the match-sealing goal.

4. Josh Kennedy - Socceroos 2006 FIFA World Cup

The lanky striker likewise only made his debut in the same year as the 2006 World Cup but was touted as 'the secret weapon' for coach Guus Hiddink. Kennedy's world cup selection yielded two substitute performances against Japan and Croatia and he quickly became noticed by Socceroos' supporters.

5. George Weah's cousin - aka Ali Dia - Southampton 1996

What better way to round out this list, than with one of the most comical stories in English Premier League history. Weah, who is now a senator of Montserrado County in Liberia, supposly spoke to the then-manager of Southampton, Graeme Souness, and pitched his cousin as an amazing player. Only problem was, that it wasn't actually in fact Weah who put the call though, but one of Dia's fellow university students. Two guesses for how this one ended up? Let's just say it's fortunate that football clubs trial players these days.