Wood has no fears facing Argentina
Chris Wood says Argentina have weaknesses and problems the All Whites can exploit should they come between New Zealand and next year’s World Cup in the two-legged interconfederation decider in November.
After cruising past the Solomon Islands 8-3 on aggregate in September’s Oceania play-off, New Zealand are waiting to discover their opponents from South America’s tough qualifying group.
The All Whites will face the fifth-placed South American team - which is currently Argentina - for a place at the World Cup in Russia.
‘‘We would have a good chance of progressing because they would not be at their strongest,’’ Wood told ESPN of Argentina.
‘‘They will be there because they haven’t performed well enough to warrant an automatic spot, so we have to take the positives out of it.
‘‘They are not playing well enough to be a top-four nation in their division, so they are going to have weaknesses and have problems.’’
The All Whites striker cited travel as one factor that could affect Argentina’s star players including the likes of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano - that are based in Europe like Wood, who joined English Premier League club Burnley from Leeds for £15 million (NZ$27.70m) in August.
New Zealand play Japan in a friendly in Nagoya tomorrow night at 11:20pm (NZ time). Japan have already qualified for the World Cup.
Wood added: ‘‘I am sure most of them [from Argentina] won’t want to travel all the way to New Zealand for a Friday or Saturday night game, then have to travel back to their own country and play us again, especially in between big games they will have in top leagues back in Europe.
‘‘It would be a great spectacle for New Zealand as a nation and a football team for Lionel Messi to turn up there and play a game.
‘‘If it does turn out to be Argentina, it is going to be a big challenge, but they are there for a reason and will be in fifth place because they haven’t done well enough.’’
There are two rounds left in Conmebol qualifying and any one of Uruguay, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay or Ecuador could find themselves in Wellington for the New Zealand-leg of the tie.
Just seven points separate second-placed Uruguay (on 27) and Ecuador (on 20) in eighth ahead of the final two rounds.
Only five-time world champions Brazil have confirmed their place at next year’s World Cup in Russia from South American qualifying. The top four teams qualify automatically.