Wood urges New Zealand to 'create some history' at World Cup
New Zealand captain Chris Wood wants his team to "create some history" at next month's World Cup (Michael Bradley) Chris Wood urged New Zealand to "create some history" after he was named captain Thursday of the World Cup squad who will be chasing a first-ever win at the global showpiece. Prolific Nottingham Forest striker Wood will lead the lowest-ranked side at this year's tournament, which begins next month in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The All Whites are 85th in the FIFA rankings and failed to win a match at their two previous appearances, including 2010 in South Africa, when Wood made three appearances as a substitute.
Wood, who has scored 45 goals in 88 internationals, believes New Zealand have the depth and quality to challenge their Group G opponents Iran, Egypt and Belgium. "It's been a long time, 16 years, since we've been in the World Cup," Wood said via video link at the squad announcement in Auckland. "I can't wait to share the moment with this team and hopefully create some history.
"I hope that we can do everybody proud and show the world what we're capable of. " Wood returned to action a month ago, having been in doubt for the World Cup with a knee injury that forced him to miss most of Forest's English Premier League campaign. - Braintree veteran - On their World Cup debut in 1982, New Zealand lost all three group matches in Spain.
But in 2010 they were unbeaten after drawing all three group matches -- against holders Italy (1-1), Slovakia (0-0) and Paraguay (1-1) -- but failed to advance to the knockout stages. Coach Darren Bazeley made one surprise selection in veteran defender Tommy Smith, who started all three matches in South Africa 16 years ago. The 36-year-old now plays in the fifth tier of English football, for Braintree Town, but Bazeley said the former England age-group player's wisdom would be invaluable.
"With a squad of 26, not everybody is going to play," Bazeley said. "So we added Tommy because his leadership is great. He's going to be so important for the players keeping everybody on track.