Ghana to play friendly against Netherlands ahead of World Cup

Ghana will play an international friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam May 31, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed here.

The match will be played at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam as part of the Black Stars' preparations for the FIFA World Cup which begins June 12 in Brazil, the association said Tuesday.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA president, said Holland will give Ghana the toughest test needed to prepare the team for the global football event.

"We have concluded an agreement to play a high-profile friendly as part of our preparations for the 2014 World Cup. The Black Stars will play Holland in Rotterdam in May to give us the tough test we need ahead of the World Cup," said Nyantakyi.

"Holland are ranked ninth in the world and are one of the giants in football. Playing them will help the players and technical team prepare for the tournament in Brazil.

"We want to leave no stone unturned in our preparation for the World Cup and we believe the match against Holland will help us a lot in this direction," he said.

Ghana have been drawn in Group G of the FIFA World Cup alongside the United States, Germany and Portugal.

The Black Stars will play their opening Group game against the USA, a team they defeated in 2006 in Germany and 2010 in South Africa.