All Whites-Socceroos ticket details released

All Whites coach Ricki Herbert and star striker Shane Smeltz are already looking forward to New Zealand's next big football match, against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 24.

The pair were guests in Melbourne today of Football Federation Australia (FFA), alongside Australian coach Pim Verbeek, as FFA and the Victorian State Government released ticketing details for the match between two World Cup-bound sides.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on March 29, priced from $A40 to $A95 (NZ$52 to NZ$124), with tickets to All Whites supporters priced at $A45.

A big crowd is expected to see two full strength World Cup squads renew a rivalry that has lain dormant for five years since Australia beat the All Whites 1-0 in London in the most recent of 62 matches between the two sides.

"For me as a Kiwi kid Australia against New Zealand has always been the rivalry that's been instilled into us with a real passion," Herbert said.

"The Socceroos are a team ranked very highly in the FIFA rankings now so it's certainly going to be a big challenge and a beneficial one for us given the teams we face at the World Cup as well.

"It'll be a great game. It's a friendly but we don't want to come here and lose either. It's great for the fans and given what the Wellington Phoenix (A-League preliminary finalists) are doing at the moment as well, I'd be disappointed if there weren't a lot of Kiwis coming across for it."

The 2010 finals in South Africa will be the first World Cup to feature both Australia and New Zealand, and Smeltz said it was a special time for the code on both sides of the Tasman.

"Being based in Australia now I've seen how the Socceroos have come along in the last eight to 10 years and hopefully we're going in that same direction after qualifying for the World Cup," Smeltz said.

"To pit ourselves against Australia in this game is fantastic. Everyone involved is looking forward to it. The game is in a healthy state in Australia and now it's in a healthy state in New Zealand so it's the perfect time to play each other."

Socceroos head coach Verbeek is also looking forward to his first match against New Zealand.

"For New Zealand to qualify for the World Cup is an outstanding achievement," he said.

"The major benefit for us, in the lead up to South Africa, is that their style of play is very similar to the 'European' style.

"Due to the rivalry between our two teams that goes back many years we are definitely expecting a very competitive match against the All Whites."

- NZPA