But the All Whites struggled with the onslaught \u2013 not reaching the levels in the previous two matches – while conceding a couple of soft goals.<\/p>\n
Wood was clearly devastated as he faced the media but is equally proud of the campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The team] has done extremely well,\u201d Wood said, as he stood in the bowels of BC Place stadium as the clock ticked past 11pm on Friday night local time. \u201cWe showed that we can compete on this world stage. Now it\u2019s about coming to a new level, a better level and executing it for a full 90 minutes to win games at the highest level and that\u2019s the big thing we\u2019ll have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood was also satisfied that the team had done everything possible to prepare for success, given their early qualification in March 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe so,\u201d Wood said. \u201cWe\u2019ve raised our game, raised our level. We always talked about building over the four years, and sometimes it didn\u2019t look like we were heading in the right direction but we have. We got to the world stage and performed.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, Wood admits that the three lost leads \u2013 and in particular the Iran match \u2013 is going to hurt as the dust settles over the next few weeks and months. While New Zealand\u2019s exit was confirmed with the Belgium defeat, their fate was probably sealed in Los Angeles when they couldn\u2019t maintain a 2-1 advantage with around 30 minutes to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, that\u2019s what it comes down to, that first game, to put ourselves in those situations twice in a game is huge,\u201d Wood agreed. \u201cWe need to go kill games off and that\u2019s what it\u2019s about, getting another one to go even further in front. That\u2019ll be the big one we\u2019ll look back on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very tough to playing up against [world class teams] and you come unstuck and they can pick moments off. You need to be perfect at every single stage of the game, we weren\u2019t at times, but that\u2019s life and it happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood revealed to the Herald in 2024 his desire to play until he was 38, which would take in both the Los Angeles Olympics and the next World Cup. That remains a goal, though the injury suffered last season has added a complicating factor.<\/p>\n
\u201cFour years is a long way away,\u201d Wood said. \u201cA lot changed over the last 18 months for me and my career and my body. I\u2019m not ruling it out. I want to play for at least another three years. It will depend on where I\u2019m playing, how high I\u2019m playing, and if the body can continue, but I have no intentions to stop just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wood said the drive to be at another Fifa World Cup won\u2019t go away \u2013 \u201cThat side of it will not stop\u201d \u2013 but it is dependent on being at the right level and being physically ready.<\/p>\n
On the loss to Belgium , Wood was downhearted but also realistic. He paid tribute to Belgium\u2019s excellence and said the decision to chase the match at 0-2 down meant they got punished further, with three goals in the last 30 minutes as the match opened up.<\/p>\n
Wood also defended the decision of coach Darren Bazeley not to start either Jesse Randall or Ben Old, given their pace could have offered an outlet from the beginning. Both wingers came on at halftime \u2013 and added a dimension \u2013 but Wood said it was a different balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very tough,\u201d Wood said. \u201cYou have to make a decision as a manager to go with your gut feel. The boys have shown in the first two games that they deserved to be involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe changed it at halftime to try. It\u2019s one of those – we can all be a bit different in hindsight, but we\u2019ve done all right in this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Overall, Wood feels confident about the future, given the age of most of the squad and the growth potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of great players at a good age,\u201d Wood said. \u201cIn history players at around 28, 29 that\u2019s when you hit your peak and you do extremely well. So hopefully in 4 years\u2019 time those boys and this team will be in a great state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Burgess<\/a> has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America\u2019s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n