Soccer: All Whites will be on a high

Leo Bertos and the All Whites will play two games in Europe and another in South Africa before the World Cup. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The All Whites will head to the hills in preparation for the World Cup with a two-week camp at altitude in Austria - and could play a practice match against Serbia.

Ricki Herbert's side play all three World Cup pool games at differing altitudes - Rustenburg (1500m), Nelspruit (660m) and Polokwane (1310m) - so will base themselves in the Austrian mountains to help the players acclimatise before leaving for South Africa.

They won't be alone. With seven of the 10 World Cup venues at altitude, England, Serbia and South Korea have already booked training camps in Austria. And Germany and the Netherlands are also investigating the possibility.

New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said All Whites sports scientist Kenny McMillan will head to Austria in 10 days to inspect three venues.

"We are happy with all three in principle and we will green-light one of them once we hear back from Kenny," Glading said.

"All have been used by international and English Premier League teams in the past to help them with altitude training. We want to play two games while in Austria against the best quality European opposition we can get."

The All Whites will play two European teams at the World Cup - holders Italy and Slovakia - as well as Paraguay.

NZF are in negotiations with another team basing themselves in Austria before the World Cup, while the second game was likely to be elsewhere in Europe.

Although England would be an attractive opponent, largely because of the popularity of the English Premiership and the familiarity in this country with their players, Serbia seems the more likely opposition.

Serbia are drawn in the same group as Australia, meaning they would be looking for similar opposition. Likewise, New Zealand would benefit from playing opposition similar to Slovakia.

New Zealand officials were also approached by their Serbian counterparts soon after the World Cup draw about the possibility of a friendly. Slovenia also enquired about a game.

"Serbia are an option and one of the teams we are talking to," Glading confirmed.

Talks are also under way to secure a friendly against another World Cup finalist once they arrive in South Africa on June 5. The World Cup kicks off on June 10 and New Zealand's first game is on June 15.

"Our preference would be to play a European or South American side but we are quite relaxed about it because it will be a World Cup finalist and this game is more about stretching the legs," Glading said.

Herbert initially targeted six friendlies before the World Cup but so far only one has been locked in - the March 3 match against Mexico in Los Angeles.

Two in Europe and one in South Africa will bring that up to four and Glading said they were hopeful of adding another three games of varying level.

"We are still exploring the opportunity of a home game before the team go to Europe. There might be an issue in getting the five players back from Europe and then flying them back again soon after.

"Someone like [captain] Ryan Nelsen might be exhausted after a long Premiership season but others like Chris Killen and Chris Wood, who haven't played much, would be brought back."

Fiji media have reported that talks are under way about a possible match here but Glading dismissed that. He also said they were trying to arrange two games for the Australasian-based players in April once the A-League was over. One could be an A international and the other against a club side.

The All Whites' plans are gaining momentum and NZF are expected to announce their World Cup base this week.

They are close to signing off a deal to stay at a six-star gated community close to Johannesburg airport.

It has up to nine houses, each with its own swimming pool, as well as a game park and golf course.