Flurry of yellow cards?

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 17

Flurry of yellow cards?

From

DAVID LEGGAT

Those who read — and believed — a story in a national weekly magazine in England last: week which, in its preview of the World Cup finals, told television viewers to expect “a flurry of yellow cards in the first half-hour” of New Zealand’s match against Scotland in Malaga on Wednesday morning will have every right to feel let down. The spirit in which the match was played could not have been better. New Zealand has been described often as a hard, physical side, not afraid to prescribe a dose of rough-house tactics for the opposition.

However, the match against Scotland produced no card-waving from the North American referee, Mr David Socha, arid while tackles were not shirked by players of either side, there was no sign of any ill-feeling between the players. As the New Zealand manager, Mr John Adshead, said: “So many people had deemed us just a team of kickers.” As a result of the match New Zealand has won itself many admirers for its battling, gutsy performance. Mr Adshead maintained that the most suitable side had been selected for the match and, as a general impression of the team ef-

fort on the night, he rated it four out of five. "We selected the side to do the best possible job on the night,” he said. “Scoring goals at this level of football is great for New Zealand. Now we are looking hard to improve on what we achieved.” Mr Adshead said the target now must be to get a point in top-class international football — “It would be totally wrong to think: Right' Russia, 4-0, and Brazil, 6-0.” '•

He also reinforced the fact that team selection for the World Cup matches is strictly a case of “horses for courses.” If that meant a

player who did a good job against Scotland had to be omitted for the Russian match because the tactical approach would be different, then that would be a necessary, if unfortunate, decision. Although reluctant .to single out players from the Scottish match for special praise Mr Adshead was particularly pleased with the goal-keeper, Frank van Hattum, upon whom blame for only two of the . five goals could perhaps have been attributed.

“When you look at his reflex stuff, his decision making — when to punch and when to catch the ball —

he had a very tidy game,” he said. i’?-

Mr Adshead was also pleased with the two front. runners, Wynton Rufer and ;- Steve Wooddin, who performed “a thankless task,"';,; and Ken Cresswell, the left£< mid-field. "When you look at his work rate and the way be ’ got on with the job after taking a real tanning from t-i Gordon Strachan in the first half, I was very pleased for him.” *5

Mr Adshead will name the 1 team for the match against . Russia late tonight (N.Z. ' time) aftdr the squad’s train- • ing session.