Mexico, New Zealand arrange friendly

December 22, 2009

New Zealand and Mexico agreed on Tuesday to play a pre-World Cup friendly on 3 March in California.

The two nations, which have both qualified for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa, have met only once before in their histories. The All Whites slammed El Tri 4-0 in a 1980 friendly.

The match will take place at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena – a suburb of Los Angeles – where the 1994 World Cup final took place between Brazil and Italy.

New Zealand manager Ricki Herbert was thrilled with the announcement of the friendly, hoping a match against Mexico could adjust New Zealand to the Latin style of play they will face in their group.

“I think with Paraguay in the group, a game against Mexico is ideal for us,” Herbert said, referring to one of his side’s Group F opponents. They play Paraguay in their final group game on 24 June in Polokwane after other matches against Slovakia and Italy.

Mexico are in Group A with hosts South Africa, Uruguay and France. Javier Aguirre’s men play in the opening match against the Bafana Bafana on 11 June.

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