Socceroos make do with All Whites as farewell

Australian coach Pim Verbeek says All Whites were "not our first priority" for a warm-up friendly in World Cup football preparation.

The Socceroos are preparing for the World Cup with a game against New Zealand on May 24 at Melbourne's MCG, and with two games in South Africa which are still being negotiated.

Australian FA officials had hoped to attract a major international team for the MCG "farewell" game two days before the Socceroos leave for South Africa on May 26.

"We all know New Zealand was not our first priority, but we are very happy they are here and we'll play against them," Verbeek told the Sun-Herald newspaper in Melbourne.

"A lot of teams are struggling to find opponents because a lot of them are going to Europe to prepare.

"In Europe it's very easy. We got enough proposals from countries very willing to play us in Europe (but) that has never been an option for me."

He said the New Zealanders had a good team and would provide an excellent contest.

"They've had a fantastic year and they're going to finish it off in the World Cup," he said.

"I'm sure my players, our players, love to play against New Zealand and see it as a great opportunity to play themselves into the final 11 for the World Cup."

NZ coach Ricki Herbert told the newspaper the encounter would be more about providing an entertaining send-off than a World Cup dry run.

But he said any sporting contest between the two nations was something either side would hate to lose and he expected many Kiwi fans to attend.

"Australia's ranked very highly on the Fifa charts now, so it's certainly going to be a big challenge and a measurable one for us given the teams that we face at the World Cup as well."

- NZPA