KIEV. Feb 1: Ukraine will play England for the first time on May 31. the country's soccer federation president said on Monday, reports Reuters.

"In the next few days we will fax the official reply to the English federation that we have accepted their offer," said Valery Pustovoitenko. "It's an honour for us to play England at such a famous football ground as Wembley.

This match should be a good test for us as we begin our preparations for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers." added Pus-lovoitenko, who said that his first priority was to find a head coach for the national team.

Earlier this month, long-serving Dynamo Kiev boss Valery Lobanovsky agreed to take the Job if the federation accepts his training programme.

Ukraine have been without a coach since Josef Sabo Resigned following the shock 3-2 aggregate defeat by Slovenia In the Euro 2000 play-offs last November.

Federation spokesman Valery Nikonenko said Ukraine have agreed to play England without any strings We heard the English were also Inviting other countries, like Russia, to play on that date," he said.

"I don't know if those countries wanted something in return but we agreed to play them without any pre-condition."

Russian soccer chief Vyacheslav Koloskov said last week that his country would only play at Wembley If the English agreed to a return match in Moscow in 2001.