Richard Porta - International Career

International Career

In 1999 Porta was called up to a one week training camp for the Australia U-17 team in Montevideo but was not selected for the squad that went on to claim silver medals at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Zealand. Porta then went on to represent the Uruguay U-20 squad at the 2003 South American Youth Championship held in Uruguay where he scored in Uruguay's 4–1 win against Bolivia on 13 January. During 2006 and 2007 Porta was twice drafted into a home-based squad for the Uruguay national team without being capped, first in March 2006 for a friendly against Saudi Arabia which was later suspended and then in September 2007 for a friendly against South Africa where he was an un-used substitute. On 21 December 2007 it was reported by The Age that Porta, despite not speaking English, had stated that if someone from Australia asked him then he would not rule out "wearing the green and gold" for the Australia national side under coach Pim Verbeek. By 16 January 2008 it was again reported by The Age that Pim Verbeek was poised to invite Porta to join the squad for Australia's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

On 3 April 2011 it was reported that Porta, having been ignored by Australia's former coach Pim Verbeek, declared that he would consider playing for Australia should someone ask him first. Despite a chronic shortage of strikers leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it was reported that Verbeek became increasingly agitated whenever questioned about Porta's claims to represent the national side when Verbeek stated that Porta never officially contacted the FFA to express his interest in playing for Australia. However, Holger Osieck looked to have re-opened the door for Porta, to prepare for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as Osieck's staff began to monitor Porta's progress following his switch from River Plate to Nacional. Osieck considered inviting Porta to Australia's training camp in Germany during April. Having become disillusioned by his treatment from Verbeek, Porta regained enthusiasm to play for Australia as his brother, Gonzalo, who lives in Sydney stated that Porta knew Osieck was a more serious coach than Verbeek and that he definitely wanted to play for Australia hoping that his chance would come soon. On November 7, Holger Osieck stated in an interview that the paperwork to officially enable Richard to play for Australia was underway and that clarification from The Uruguayan FA and FIFA was imminent. This should ensure El Canguro is eligible to play for the Socceroos despite the fact that he has played for the Uruguay U-20 team.