Woud’s dilemma: Dutch delight or Kiwi connection
Former All Whites goalkeeper Glen Moss is encouraging Michael Woud to go with his heart as he considers switching allegiance to the Netherlands.
The 19-year-old is in the frame for a Dutch under-20 callup, having played for New Zealand at senior and age-group level previously.
His inclusion in a preliminary squad this week was the first sign such a move was on the cards and his agent Bruno Meirelles has confirmed he is weighing it up.
‘‘Michael hasn’t decided yet,’’ he told Stuff yesterday. We will inform [the] NZ federation of Michael’s decision shortly.’’
The Netherlands under-20 team has a friendly against Portugal next month and the final squad for that fixture is set to be named next week.
Moss, whose international retirement opened the door for Woud to make his All Whites debut against India this year, has been in a similar situation himself. Although he was born in New Zealand, he moved to Queensland as a child and holds an Australian passport.
However, he said he chose to represent New Zealand because it was the country he was most passionate about, and he is now encouraging Woud to go with his heart as well.
‘‘We came over from New Zealand in the late ’80s when dad got work over in Australia. For me it wasn’t a hard decision to make because I was born in New Zealand and it was something that was in my heart, and that’s probably my advice to anyone who is dual international,’’ Moss said.
Born in Auckland, Woud has a Dutch passport and is eligible to play for the Netherlands, as his lone appearance for the All Whites came in a friendly match. Players are only tied to a country once they play a competitive senior fixture, such as a World Cup qualifier.
Under Fifa rules, players are only permitted to change their nationality once, meaning Woud would be lost to the All Whites if he seeks to play for the Netherlands.
He is widely regarded as the country’s future No 1, and was a notable omission from the New Zealand squad for this month’s Oceania under-19 championship, as he was not released by his club, Willem II.
While New Zealand Football has twice declined the opportunity to comment on Woud’s situation, Moss urged the national body to let the player make the decision himself.
He said if Woud did not want to represent New Zealand there was no point begging him to stay. ‘‘I don’t think New Zealand Football should be chasing guys to play for them. We shouldn’t have to beg guys to play for our country, if anything it should be the other way round.
‘‘When I was 18 I begged my dad to ring New Zealand Football because that’s how badly I wanted it,’’ he said.