The failure of John Adshead

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 15

The failure of John Adshead

A young Dane, writing to his father-in-law in Christchurch. said he thought NewZealand had acquitted itself well in the World Cup soccer tournament, which had been closely watched by television viewers in Denmark. However, he said, not all Danish soccer writers took a verybright view of New Zealand’s prospects. One had suggested, before the game, with Brazil, that the New Zealand coach John Adshead had four courses open to him: ® to send all 22 players on to the field, although that might be noticed by the referee:

• Mr Adshead could send for the rugby team, but that might not (bring success, because the rugby players would find it hard to handle the round ball and would constantly put the ball behind the line or kick it over the cross-bar; • he could board up the Kiwis’ goal, although that might sound as if there was a woodpecker on the ground; • he could use the Arab recipe (Kuwait) by letting his players leave the field before the end of the game, and thus limit the defeat. However, that course was unlikely because the New Zealand Football Association could not afford the fine.