Soccer: All Whites add fourth international

The All Whites have added a fourth international to their European tour, against Hungary in Budapest on May 24, New Zealand Soccer (NZS) said yesterday.

The match will begin a schedule of four internationals, ending with a match against world champions Brazil in Geneva on June 4.

New Zealand will also play Georgia on May 27 at a venue to be confirmed and Estonia on May 31 in Tallinn.

The addition of Hungary to the programme means the tour has been extended to 17 days, with the All Whites now leaving New Zealand on May 20.

Georgia, Estonia and Hungary are all ranked about 75th to 100th mark in the world.

Unlike defending champions Brazil, none of the three will be going to the World Cup finals beginning in Germany next month.

Brazil's match against the All Whites will be the South Americans' last outing before they open their bid to win an record-extending fifth World Cup title.

NZS chief executive Graham Seatter said the European tour was part of the preparation for coach Ricki Herbert and his players as they built towards qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals.

"We wanted to put a big challenge in front of Ricki and the players so they can learn, and these games are just that," he said.

"If we can continue to play matches like this then, in time, we'll compete. We might take a few hits along the way but if you don't lose, you don't learn."

Herbert plans to name his 20-man squad on Monday for the trip to Europe.

In all, the All Whites, at present ranked 120th in the world, are expected to play at least 10 matches during 2006.

They beat Malaysia twice at home in February, and lost twice away to Chile last month.

NZS said it had also secured fixtures against English premier league clubs Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers in August, and hoped that a third game might be arranged.

- NZPA