McGarry, Ironside to join All Whites squad

Press, 18 March 1989, Page 96

McGarry, Ironside to join All Whites squad

PA Auckland Two Sydney-based players, Mike McGarry and Robert Ironside, have been added to the All Whites squad for its two World Cup soccer matches in Auckland next month.

Their inclusion by the coach, John Adshead, follows New Zealand’s 4-1 loss to Australia

in Sydney last Sunday.

The All Whites have a rematch with Australia in the soccer-rugby double-header at Mt Smart on April 2 and play Israel at the same venue a week later. Mr Adshead resisted the temptation to call on Australia-based players last week but had to endure a lacklustre per-

formance by the New Zealanders.

“After what really was a very good performance against Israel (0-1) in Tel Aviv I decided to stick with basically the same players,” Mr Adshead said.

“It’s always easy to look back on events, but given the chance again I would do the same thing.

If we had been beaten badly by Israel then the doors would have been open for replacements but that wasn’t the case.

“Now I feel the time is right to bring in some new players.” However, Mr Adshead has decided against recalling the Oxford professional, Cerl Evans. “With no points on the

board, I don’t feel we could justify Ceri being away from England for that length of time,” he said. “As good a player as Ceri is, there is no shortage of big centrebacks.” 1 While their hopes of qualifying for the 1990 ■ finals have realistically vanished, the All Whites ! still feel they can have a

major bearing on this Oceania elimination series. “Our ideals haven’t changed,” said Mr Adshead. “Our aim over the next three weeks is to win the games in New Zealand. We know we can do a lot better than last Sunday. “At least there will be a New Zealand side out

there that isn’t the lethargic team that played in Australia.” The squad announced by the New Zealand Football Association chairman, Warwick Gendall, is:— Clint Gosling (Sydney Olympic), Ricki Herbert (Mt Wellington), Malcolm Dunford (Wellington United), Garry Lund (Christchurch United), Michael McGarry (Sydney Olympic), Tommy

Mason (Farnborough), Tony Levy (Mt Wellington), Robert Ironside (Sydney Olympic), Chris Riley (Miramar), Noel Barkley (Mt Wellington), Michael Ridenton (Mt Wellington), Darren McClennan (Mt Wellington), Rodger Gray (Mt Wellington), Danny Halligan (Christchurch United), Nigel Debenham (Mt Wellington), Dave Witteveen (Mt Wellington), Peter Kuiper (Mt Wellington).