Soccer: Turkey lined up for All Whites' European tour

The All Whites are set to play Turkey in another high-profile international being finalised. Ricki Herbert's side is expected to take on the Turks on August 16 to round out next month's European tour that will also feature games against Charlton and Ryan Nelsen's Blackburn.

Turkey were 2002 World Cup semifinalists and, at 14, are the highest-ranked side not at the 2006 World Cup.

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter had been in negotiations with Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic for a game on that date but talks with all three broke down.

August 16 is a Fifa international window, which means Herbert would be within his rights to call up the likes of Nelsen, Simon Elliott, Chris Killen and Ivan Vicelich.

The Turks would use it as part of their buildup to the Euro 2008 qualifiers starting on September 6.

They had been keen on a game against the All Whites during their European tour in May and June but it proved too difficult to arrange.

A Turkey fixture would round out an impressive array of matches for the All Whites this year, highlighted by the glamour tie against a full-strength Brazil side just days before the World Cup.

Turkey would be their 11th match this year and there are hopes of similarly high-profile games next year in the leadup to the All Whites' 2010 World Cup qualifying programme starting next September.

* The Knights have signed Swiss left back Gregory Duruz from FC Thun, meaning they have now filled 17 spots in a squad of 20. The 29-year-old former Swiss youth international made two Champions League and two Uefa Cup appearances with FC Thun last season.

He also played for FC Basle during their giantkilling run in the 2002-03 Champions League, when the Swiss club narrowly missed making the quarter-finals.

"It was a great memory for me," Duruz said. "I played against a lot of great teams and a lot of great players. I see the A-League as a new beginning for me because I didn't want to stay in Switzerland after 10 years there. I needed a change so I think playing for the Knights will be a good experience."

The Knights added 20-year-old Australian striker Adam Casey on Friday and manager Paul Nevin is now hunting for two more strikers and a left-sided centre-back to complete his squad.