All Whites expect harder Aust, clash

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 32

All Whites expect harder Aust, clash

From

DAVID LEGGAT

in Auckland

While there is an unmistakable air of confidence in the New Zealand soccer camp, its most experienced player, Steve Sumner, expects Australia to present a more formidable front than it did in the last world cup campaign, four years ago.

As the All Whites prepared to meet Australia at Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow in their opening World Cup qualifying match, Sumner’s mind went back to 1981 when he captained New Zealand through to the finals in Spain. That series began at Auckland against Australia. Sumner, one of seven survivors of 1981, believes Australia will be a sterner obstacle tomorrow than it was in the earlier series. “Australia would have to improve on that qualifying series because they were an embarrassment,” he recalled. “Their attitude to each other was very poor, relations on the park were bad. If they improve that, they will be a far better side.”

Sumner, who spent three years playing in Australia at the time of the previous campaign, felt much of that stemmed from the German coach, Mr Rudi Gutendorf.

“He seemed more intent on his own character building than the team. Fran Arok (the present Australian coach) seems more disciplined.” Australia was, man for man, a more skilled team than the All Whites in 1981, and Sumner feels that will not have changed. “They will be technically better than our lads, but that does not necessarily make a better football team.”

As for the New Zealand team, with the deeds of the last World Cup side still vivid in the memory, Sumner said much will be expected. “People had a lot of respect for the last side. We have got a lot to live up to. They set the standard,” he added. That 1981 team was superbly led by Mr John Adshead, an outstanding motivator, and Mr Kevin Fallon, a strict disciplinarian, who set the tone in

training sessions. Now Mr Fallon is in complete command, and the pitch at which he sends the New Zealand team on to Mount Smart could be the deciding factor in that match, according to Sumner. “When it was Adshead and Fallon, they had their separate jobs and no one could have done them better. Now it is Fallon on his own. He has that approach, the mental attitude, of always wanting to be first. “He knows how to prepare teams, and he has no time for softies,” said

Sumner. “If you cannot respond to him, you get out. “And I will say this,” he warned. “If we do not put on a good performance and get a result on Saturday, he will be unbearable to live with.” New Zealand had a training run yesterday morning, and the only setback came when Kevin Hagan, the player of the year, strained a groin muscle, putting him in doubt for the match. It is far from certain that Hagan would have claimed a place, in any case. The team had a secret

training match on Wednesday, mainly to familiarise the Rufer brothers, Shane and Wynton, with the rest of the squad. From that exercise, and the events of yes'terday, a likely team is starting to emerge. Mr Fallon will have been heartened to discover the ■ solid form of Shane Rufer at right back, but he is giving away no hints as to the eleven players to start the match. The Australian squad of 19 players did not train yesterday, but both teams will have a final run today. Ticket sales for the match

indicate that the New Zealand Football Association could get close to the 15,000 crowd it is seeking to boost the sagging financial resources to get the national squad through the rest of the qualifying series. Since the halcyon days of 1981, crowds have dwindled alarmingly. But the challenge of New Zealand’s arch-rival — which has not recorded a win in the last eight years against the All Whites — might just be the incentive to get the support the N.Z.F.A. so desperately needs.