Cole’s fitness poses problem for coach

Press, 9 June 1982, Page 40

Cole’s fitness poses problem for coach

NZPA staff correspondent Marbella The New Zealand soccer team’s manager. John Adshead, must decide in the next week whether to gamble on the fitness of the mid-fielder, Duncan Cole, in the Kiwis' World Cup soccer clash with Scotland, at Malaga next Wednesday morning (NewZealand time). Cole, ever present in the New Zealanders' World Cup qualifying games has not played for six weeks and missed the Kiwis’ eight warm-up games against the League of Ireland and Watford.

He has been sidelined with a partially-torn achilles tendon which was still sore during the team’s first training session yesterday. Cole came through the session without problem, but Mr Adshead said afterwards that the injury was of a type which could lead to a full tear without warning. "To play him would he a gamble as his match fitness must warm-up series. Mr Adshead included both of them in an 11 which played the rest of the 22-man New Zealand squad in training yesterday. That 11, which Mr Adshead said would "not be that much different from the side that

takes the field against Scotland, had the captain, Steve Sumner, and Grant Turner accompanying Boath and Cole in the middle, with Brian Turner and Steve Wooddin as the striking duo. Mr Adshead said he would stay with a 4-4-2 formation against Scotland. The near certain inclusion of Wynton Rufer as one of the strikers and the dropping of Wooddin back to the mid-field means that either Boath or Cole is the most likely to lose his place. Rufer’s sharp reflexes and ability to beat men and shoot powerfully make him pos-

sibly New Zealand’s most potent weapon. The back four fielded by Mr Adshead ' yesterday revealed that John Hill may be set to supplant Adrian Elrick as one of the fullbacks. Hill played at right back in the Kiwis' first round of qualifying games and took that position in the “first choice” team yesterday with Glen Dods moving across to take Elrick’s place at left back. Elrick came into the team for New Zealand’s game in Peking against China and held his place for the matches against Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. How-

ever. Hill played outstandingly when given his chance in the games. The other defenders in yesterday’s "first choice” team were Bobby Almond and Ricki Herbert, indicating Herbert may have beaten off Sam Malcolmson’s challenge for the centre-half position. The New Zealand team to play Scotland is likely to have its “dress rehearsal” against Mijas, a club side which plays in a local league. That game, tomorrow also be open to question. “With the injury he has, he could go right through training okay and then tear the

tendon five minutes into the game against Scotland.” Mr Adshead said that Cole was being looked at day by day but at the moment he was sufficiently encouraged to believe the mid-fielder could be played. Cole is already being pressured for his place in the mid-field by Allan Boath, one of the successes of the morning, replaces a proposed game against a second division side, Marbella, which fell through yesterday when the Spaniards announced they had a league fixture. The possibility of the game against Mijas was raised when the New Zealanders

visited the picturesque village in the Andalusian Hills. Mijas has only a stadium with a clay surface and the game is likely to be played on a grass pitch at nearby Fuengirola. Other local sides have offered to play the New Zealanders for a fee. but Mr Adshead has declined in blunt terms. Today the New Zealanders will continue their training with the emphasis again on shutting down opposing teams quickly and first-touch ball control; and tonight will have their first group training session, with three or four players taken aside for

specialist training on aspects of their play. Today should also see a rush paint job on the bus which the New Zealanders were supplied with for their World Cup campaign. The bus was delivered to the Kiwis with a large Union Jack painted on both sides, on a blue background — but with none of the New Zealand flag's red stars. The New Zealanders quickly pointed out they did not want to be mistaken for the English team and the Spanish authorities were quick to organise the addition of the stars.