Hudson ponders buildup options
Opposition similar to European champions Portugal and Central American heavyweights Mexico sit atop the All Whites hit-list as they look to lock down their preConfederations Cup schedule.
On Thursday, world No 74 Belarus were New Zealand’s first confirmed opponent for the international window falling less than a week from the start of the starstudded Fifa tournament on June 17 (June 18 NZ time).
The 109th-ranked Kiwi side will play in the Belarussian capital of Minsk on June 13, five days before their Confederations Cup opener against hosts Russia in St Petersburg.
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson is optimistic of securing two more preparation fixtures, with their other group opposition front of mind as they negotiated with a variety of nations.
‘‘In an ideal world we would get teams similar to Mexico and Portugal,’’ he said. ‘‘We’d be really close to St Petersburg, with the same climate and the right date for us but we won’t have everything our way.
‘‘We have to make sure our travel is kept to a minimum, we have competitive games and financially it works.
‘‘There are a couple of options that would suit in terms of Mexico and Portugal but also some opposition that are really strong and logistically and financially would be really good games, games the players and [fans] would like in good locations.’’
Adding to the time-intensive balancing act that was organising the warm-up games, if New Zealand are to play three, one will have to be played outside the June 5-13 international window.
Teams can play a maximum of two fixtures in a window but Hudson was confident a third could work given they would already be in a part of the world where teams regularly played outside the specified period.
He wanted their full preparation schedule set in stone well before their home-and-away World Cup qualifying tie with Fiji at the end of next month and was hopeful that would happen ‘‘within the next couple of weeks’’.
‘‘It takes time but we are in a really good position,’’ he said.
‘‘What we are looking at is teams not in the other group (Germany, Chile, Australia and Cameroon) but teams which fit in line with everything else,’’ Hudson said.
‘‘They are still very big games for us.’’
As for the clash with Belarus, that was important in its own ways.
Hudson has made clear his team’s intentions to cause an upset at the Confederations Cup and their first match could well be their best chance.
The hosts are likely to be under extra pressure to perform on home soil, while Hudson believes his team will enjoy playing against the style Russia are known for.
The fixture with Belarus was scheduled with that in mind.
‘‘It is a team that is at a good level for us leading into that first game, they are not too weak or too difficult,’’ Hudson said.
‘‘We hope to have a strong performance to go into that opening game with confidence and Belarus are a team that is very similar to Russia.
‘‘They are very workmanlike and disciplined, not a technical, fluid passing team. They will be very structured and organised.’’