At the end of the year, Dante received a surprise call-up to the Crew and started a playoff game over the befuddled regular starter Edson Buddle.

He was included in the 2010 World Cup squad, after receiving a surprise call-up from manager Ottmar Hitzfeld.

He earned a surprise call-up to the full national side in November 2009 by Josip Kuže for a friendly against Estonia.

This led to a surprise call-up to the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, where he was a replacement in the decisive Second Test.

The international break saw a surprise call-up to the England squad for Frankie Fielding following West Ham United's Rob Green's withdrawal through injury.

In April 2012, Hattingh received a surprise call-up to the injury depleted Lions Super Rugby team.

Pigott was due to get married, and the surprise call-up meant he had to postpone his wedding to represent his country.

Gary Brent was a surprise call-up during the ICC Champions Trophy (2006), replacing the injured Terrence Duffin.

At only 17 years old, Song was given a surprise call-up to Henri Michel's Cameroon squad for the 1994 World Cup and played two games at the finals.

On 1 June 2010 Widdop received a surprise call-up into new England coach Steve McNamara's 19-man squad for the match against France on 12 June 2010.