Hudson welcomes clash with Belarus

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson believes Belarus will provide good preparation for his team’s opening game at the Confederations Cup.

New Zealand Football confirmed yesterday the national team will be hosted for a friendly fixture on June 12 in the Belarussian capital of Minsk.

The match will be New Zealand’s last before facing hosts Russia in the Confederations Cup opener in St Petersburg on June 17.

New Zealand and Belarus have never met at senior level though the latter prevailed 1-0 during the 2012 London Olympics, where the men’s tournament is played at under-23 level with the provision for three over-aged players.

Hudson felt Belarus, with a world ranking of 74, would present a good challenge for the 109thranked All Whites.

It appears likely the match will not be the only friendly the All Whites will play prior to the eightteam Fifa tournament, either.

Hudson said there had been ‘‘significant interest’’ in playing his side this year, with NZF working through the logistics and a full schedule leading into the Confederations Cup to be released as soon as it is confirmed.

That interest underlined the significance of winning the Oceania Nations Cup in June last year, beating hosts Papua New Guinea on penalties, Hudson said.

New Zealand face Fiji in a World Cup qualifying tie on March 25 (away) and March 28 (home), with a win and a draw in those matches enough to put them through to the Oceania final to be played between August 28 and September 5.

The winner of that tie advances to an intercontinental playoff against the fifth-placed side from South American qualifying. After 12 of 18 matches, that team is world No 1 Argentina.

Following their match against Russia to open the Confederations Cup in St Petersburg, the All Whites play Mexico on June 21 and Portugal on June 24 to wrap up their pool play.