The decision to stage the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand in June made about as much sense as the proposed Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Actually, that's a bit harsh. The choice of Qatar as tournament hosts, especially with the original summer parameters, ranked as one of the worst decisions of the past few decades, alongside Coke's call to change its recipe in 1985 and Decca Records turning down The Beatles.
But the point needs to be made. The recently-concluded tournament in New Zealand didn't reach its potential, mainly because of a poor call around timing.
It feels like a missed opportunity. The teams produced some spectacular football but the event never quite captured the public's imagination and certainly didn't draw the crowds it deserved.
Granted, the Local Organising Committee were unlucky with the weather, particularly in Wellington, but June was always going to be a gamble. Sitting in the North Harbour Stadium wind tunnel, accompanied by icy rain for many of the games there, was unpleasant. And it meant the carnival atmosphere never really took off.