Sodje - thrilled by call. (Allsport)

Efe Sodje is accustomed to turning out in front of 5,000 at Gresty Road, so the chance to star before a worldwide audience is one he is determined not to pass up.

The centre-back, who plays for English club Crewe, was yesterday called up to the crisis-hit Nigeria World Cup squad.

While several leading Nigerians will not be making the trip to Japan for the finals, including Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George and Victor Agali, coach Festus Onigbinde has handed Sodje a shock call.

Ahead of his first major international tournament, Sodje is determined to take full advantage.

The 30-year-old said: "It's a dream come true to be involved in the World Cup.

"I think for any player it is the biggest stage to play on and I'm so happy that I'm going to be part of it.

"It is definitely the highest point of my career, you can't have a higher point than the World Cup can you?"

Few are tipping Nigeria to get beyond the first round, and the omissions of Victor Agali and Sunday Oliseh have drawn criticism from key squad player Jay-Jay Okocha.

The divide between players and federation, which was sparked by the Nigerian FA demanding players pay for their own airfares home after semi-final defeat at the African Nations Cup, is threatening to disrupt team morale.

The Nigerians are in the 'Group of Death' with England, Argentina and Sweden, but Sodje is remaining cautiously optimistic.

"The chances for us to progress are there but it will be difficult so we will have to see," he said.

"Can we beat England? I don't know - we will just have to see what happens."