Top MLS Supplemental Draft pick Michael Boxall earned his first senior call-up to the New Zealand national team this week.
The former University of California, Santa Barbara, defender was Vancouver Whitecaps FC's top selection in the 2011 Supplemental Draft on January 18, and has been part of the club's preseason preparations for their inaugural season in Major League Soccer.
Boxall is one of six uncapped players to be named in head coach Ricki Herbert's extended 30-man squad. Herbert will then trim down the squad to 22 players for a two-match friendly tour of China and Japan later this month. The All Whites will face China in Wuhan on Friday, March 25, before meeting recently-crowned AFC Asian Cup winners Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday, March 29.
"The opportunity to represent New Zealand at any level is a huge thing," Boxall told whitecapsfc.com. "To be called up to the full national team is a huge honour. I've had nothing but good experiences with the New Zealand national team set-up, having played for the U-20's and the Olympic team. I'm looking forward to getting in the mix again."
