N.Z. ‘still to reach world level’

Press, 12 November 1985, Page 60

N.Z. ‘still to reach world level’

NZPA staff correspondent HUGH BARLOW The All Whites coach, Mr Kevin Fallon, said after his side had lost, 0-3, to Israel that New Zealand still had some way to go before it could compete at international level. “I’m getting players who when they get into the international arena aren’t quite good enough,” Mr Fallon said. “Now and then wp have

miraculous results, e.g., 3-1 against Israel the first time, but you’re never going to do that all the time.” Mr Fallon said his team, missing its top players, Ricki Herbert, Shane and Wynton Rufer, Duncan Cole and Grant Turner, did not play too badly. All Israel’s goals came within 20 minutes in the second half.

“Really, the result flattered them. Usually you

only deserve what you get. But we deserved maybe 1-0. When it’s 3-0 you say a team’s beaten comprehensively. We weren’t comprehensively beaten. “Funnily enough, when Israel first scored we were on top,” Mr Fallon said. “I thought some of the football produced in the second half was arguably the best we have played right through the tournamesst. But we gave away

some very silly goals.” New Zealand’s hopes of making it to Mexico for the World Cup finals were dashed the previous Sunday, after the 0-2 defeat at Sydney. Mr Fallon named Sean Byrne, Declan Edge and Kenny Cresswell as his best players in the Israel match. He has gone to England to watch British coaches in action, and wants to start

working with younger players as well as the national squad. Israeli journalists had mixed feelings about the match. Some agreed with Mr Fallon’s analysis but others were indignant when he suggested the result flattered the home team. One said that with the World Cup qualifying round already completed, it was a complete waste of time anyway.