Star Hungarian striker likely to play against New Zealand

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 64

Star Hungarian striker likely to play against New Zealand

By

ALISTAIR ARMSTRONG

The S 3 million soccer star, Tibor Nyilasi, could be the ace the Hungarian manager, Kalman Meszoly, plucks from his deck for the second international against New Zealand at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Christchurch, tomorrow. , The 27-year-old midfielder did not feature in Hungary’s 2-1 win at Auckland on Thursday, but Mr Meszoly, speaking through an interpreter, hinted yesterday that he might be part of a plan to broaden the attack this time. “There is a good chance Nyilasi will play,” he said. “We are going to change our playing formation to a 4-2-4 attacking line-up. Mr Meszoly hoped the move would result in better finishing from the Europeans than on Thursday, when some opportunities were not put into the back of the net. “If we create as many chances as on the first occasion I will be happy but we cannot afford to miss them this time, after all, it is our national team,” he said. If anyone can increase the goal count for the Hungarians it is likely to be Nyilasi, reputed to have been offered 53 million to transfer to a Spanish club, FC Barcelona. The Hungarian “Footballer )f the Year” for 1981, Myilasi, earned a Silver Shoe iward last year for being

Europe’s second-highest goalscorer.

“We know a lot of people want to see him,” Mr Meszoly said. The Hungarian team would be named, as is traditional for the .Europeans, on the day of the match. Mr Meszoly said he would be fielding a young team, with some players out through injury.

They included Katzirz, the rangy No. 1 goalkeeper who was also unavailable for the first match, and most likely the 28-year-old stopper, Attila Kerekes. Another “star” player, and a kev figure in Hungary’s World Cup plans, Andras Torocsik, was aiso a doubtful starter. The Hungarians had a one and a half hour training session at Queen Elizabeth II Park stadium yesterday and they seemed happy with the ground and its facilities. The handful of spectators present caught a glimpse of some of the outstanding ball skills this side has. The visitors were to complete their preparation for tomorrow’s match at Christchurch’s Burnside High School today. Meanwhile, the New Zealand squad had a similar preparation at the stadium earlier yesterday afternoon. Fifteen players have been brought to Christchurch, with two of the team who took the field in Auckland, Allan Boatb and Richard Wilson,

having returned for club duty in Australia. Manurewa’s Frank van Hattum will be taking Wilson’s place in the goal, with a youth international, Rudi Feitsma, of Wellington, being brought into the squad as a replacement. Otherwise the line-up is the same, with the Gisborne City pair of Peter Simonsen and Ken Cresswell vying for Boath’s place on Sunday. Mr Adshead said he would not be naming his team until later today, but after what had been a pleasing performance at Auckland, there were unlikely to be any “wholesale changes”. Mr Meszoly’s apparent change of tactics was to be “fully expected,” said Mr Adshead.

There were two really class players he didn’t use in Auckland and if I was him, I would now be putting the best available on the park,” he said. “It’s the last match of the tour for them and they are probably looking to get a three goal margin. “And, in the main, I think he has got a side capable of doing it,” Mr Adshead said. However, the coach was full of praise for the defensive effort of his team on Thursday and he felt that it was up to New Zealand to shut the Europeans down again. “If we can keep them down to a one goal margin we will be doing exceptionally well," he said.

The New Zealanders have brought a video of their first encounter with the Hungarians to view in Christchurch, and they will, by rounding out their training with a session this morning, tentatively arrange for the Christchurch Boy’s High School grounds. Meanwhile, ticket sales for the match had reached the 5000-mark with some returns still to be counted, by last evening, according to the chairman of the Canterbury Football Association, Mr Alan Fraser. The figure was below the previously-men-tioned break-even point of 8000 tickets for the $40,000 promotion, but tickets would also be available at the park today, Mr Fraser said.