Pim welcomes Kiwi clash

21 February 2010-AAP

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has welcomed the match-up in Melbourne between his world No.23 ranked team and New Zealand.

The Australians will play their trans-Tasman rivals in a World Cup farewell match at the MCG on Monday, May 24.

"New Zealand are a World Cup qualified country, they play more or less a European style of football and there is a nice rivalry between our two teams that goes back many years," Verbeek said.

"We are expecting a very competitive match against the All Whites and it will be a great way for us to start our pre-tournament camp."

The friendly match promises to draw a big crowd, with the timing likely to ensure most of the Socceroos' biggest names such as captain Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano and Mark Schwarzer take part.

It's believed FFA had been negotiating with a number of European and South American countries about playing a friendly in Australia but found it difficult to lure a bigger-name nation than world No.79 New Zealand for the one-off match.

Melbourne secured the game with backing from the Victorian Government. It follows the farewell match between the Socceroos and Greece at the MCG before the last World Cup in 2006.

The Socceroos start their camp in Melbourne on May 19 and will attend the Australian Football Awards on May 22.

The Socceroos have not played the All Whites since June 2005, when Australia won 1-0 at Craven Cottage in London in Ricki Herbert's first game as New Zealand coach.

They used to meet regularly in World Cup qualification before Australia switched to the Asian Football Confederation from Oceania in 2006.