28 Jul 2015

Hudson says South American team is just another game

7:58 am on 28 July 2015

The New Zealand men's football coach Anthony Hudson says it makes no difference who they play in World Cup qualifying.

Anthony Hudson, All Whites coach.

Anthony Hudson, All Whites coach. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fifa announced the draw for the intercontinental qualifying play-offs at the weekend with the Oceania winner to play the fifth-placed South American side for a place at Russia 2018.

In recent tournaments the All Whites lost to Mexico for a place in Brazil, while they beat Bahrain for a place in South Africa in 2010.

While a South American team is seen as the toughest prospect, Hudson isn't concerned saying it's just another game.

"We could be going to play Iran, in front of 100,000 fans, or going to South Korea or going to the USA or going to wherever it's irrelevant."

"It's a game, it's our gameplan, we will be incredibly prepared for it, we've been working now solidly, as we have done, in making sure that we go to the World Cup because we'll be incredibly prepared for the game, not for the occasion."

Meanwhile yesterday New Zealand Football announced they'll appeal the disqualification of the New Zealand side from the Rio Olympics for fielding an ineligible player at the qualifying tournament in Papua New Guinea recently.