Wood signals start of exciting new era
Chris Wood is looking forward to a new era of New Zealand football off the back of this Olympics campaign.
Wood has been on the international scene since June 2009, when he made his debut against Tanzania as a 17-year-old.
Across that period, he has witnessed several generations come and go and lined up with some of the best footballers to wear the silver fern. But he has never seen talent like the current Oly Whites crop.
“The potential this team has could overshadow a lot of teams of the past,” said Wood. “If they fulfil their potential, it’s going to be some side for the next few years. I’m excited to be part of it and hopefully it starts now.”
His optimism was underlined by the 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, New Zealand’s first in Olympic men’s football. It was far from perfect, and the team rode their luck at times, with some wasteful finishing by the Koreans. But the Oly Whites deserved the final result after a compelling all-round display.
Despite all his club achievements, topped only by Wynton Rufer from a Kiwi perspective, Wood was clearly thrilled with the win.
“Internationally, it is definitely up there,” said Wood. “[That] tournament feeling is something that doesn’t come around very often. Probably three or four tournaments for New Zealand and this is a huge one.”
It also illustrated Wood’s drive and focus; he was barely in the game, isolated up front, but took his one chance clinically, set up by a superb first touch, while his Korean counterparts squandered their opportunities.
“That’s when I do my best work, when I don’t have time to think,” joked Wood. “But it’s all about getting the right touch and right connection when you’re shooting. Thankfully I was able to do both.”
Each team in Japan is allowed three players older than 24 but few would have more of an influential duo than Wood and Winston Reid, who provide class, confidence and composure.
“The leadership they are showing off the field, they stand up and lead the way, and you saw the younger players follow them,” said Oly Whites coach Danny Hay.
But the veterans know nothing has been achieved yet. That was why Wood, within a few minutes of the final whistle on Thursday, was working to keep the team grounded.
“I see the potential in these lads and their potential isn’t to win one game at the Olympics,” said Wood. “Their potential is to go a lot further. Yes, enjoy the moment, enjoy something historic, but remember we are here to create a lot more history than that.”
Hopefully those words resonated, because tonight’s game against Honduras at 8pm will be tough. They qualified for the Olympics at the expense of the United States and reached the semifinals at the Rio Games before losing to eventual champions Brazil.