Wood urges New Zealand to ‘create some history’ at World Cup
Wood, Nottingham Forest’s prolific striker, will lead the lowest-ranked side into this year’s tournament, which kicks off next month in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The All Whites sit 85th in the FIFA rankings and have failed to win a match in their previous two outings, including South Africa in 2010, where Wood made three appearances as a substitute.
Wood, who has scored 45 goals in 88 international appearances, believes New Zealand have the depth and quality to challenge Group G rivals Iran, Egypt and Belgium.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been to the World Cup, 16 years,” Wood said via video link at the squad announcement in Auckland. he said.
“I can’t wait to share this moment with this team and hopefully create history.
“Hopefully we can make everyone proud and show the world what we can do.” Wood returned to action a month ago; He was in doubt for the World Cup due to a knee injury that forced him to miss most of Forest’s English Premier League season.
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– Braintree veteran –
In their first World Cup match in 1982, New Zealand lost all three group matches in Spain.
However, in 2010, they remained unbeaten after drawing all three group matches against Italy (1-1), Slovakia (0-0) and Paraguay (1-1), but failed to progress to the knockout stages.
Coach Darren Bazeley made a surprise selection in veteran defender Tommy Smith, who started all three games for South Africa 16 years ago.
The 36-year-old currently plays for Braintree Town in English football’s fifth tier but Bazeley said the former England age-group player’s wisdom would be invaluable.
“With a 26-man roster, not everyone is going to play,” Bazeley said.
“So we added Tommy because his leadership is great. He’s going to be very important for the players to keep everyone on track. We’re going to rely on him a lot.”
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Bazeley said Wood and Europe-based midfielders Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Matt Garbett and Ryan Thomas will be key players.
Ten play in the Australian A-League competition, including eight at the league’s two New Zealand clubs, Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix.
New Zealand qualified for the World Cup by winning the Oceania qualifying series in March.
Their first opponents in Group G will be Iran on June 15 in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt on June 22 and Belgium on June 27 in Vancouver, Canada.
New Zealand World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)
Defenders: Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers)
Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets), Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matt Garbett (Peterborough United), Ben Old (Saint-Etienne), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Marko Stamenic (Swansea City), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)
Forward: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Elijah Just (Motherwell), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg IF), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Ben Waine (Port Vale FC), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
