NZ Herald Focus Sport's Cheree Kinnear wraps day three while Lewis Clareburt eyes gold and Ella Williams opens up ahead of Games debut. Video / NZ Herald
Chris Wood is looking forward to a new era of New Zealand football, hoping that the Olympics campaign can herald the start of a productive period.
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 hehas witnessed several generations come and go and lined up with some of the best players to wear the silver fern.
But he has never seen talent like the current Oly Whites crop.
"The potential that 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 victory 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 they deserved the final result, after a compelling all-round display.
Despite all his club achievements, only topped by Wynton Rufer from a Kiwi perspective, Wood was clearly thrilled by the win.
He netted the only goals at the 2012 Olympics and 2017 Confederations Cup, part of some credible performances in those tournaments, but last Thursday's goal was his first winning strike.
"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 fluffed their lines.
"That's when I do my best work, when I don't have time to think," joked Wood. "But it is all about getting the right touch and the right connection when you are shooting. Thankfully I was able to do both."
Each team in Tokyo is allowed three over-age players (older than 24) but few squads would have more of an influential duo than Wood and Winston Reid, who provide class, confidence and composure.
"They were absolute warriors but that has been set off the pitch over the last couple of weeks," said coach Danny Hay. "The leadership they are showing off the field, they stand up and lead the way and you saw the younger players follow them."
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.
"That's what we expect of each other now" he told the celebrating squad.
"For me, I see the potential in these lads and their potential isn't to win one game at the Olympics," explained Wood. "Their potential is to go a lot further. Yes, enjoy the moment, enjoy something that is historic but remember we are here to create a lot more history than that.
"In the moment you need to remember that this is the standard that we set, we want this level and now more, we do not drop below that. That's what I need to do in my game and that's what I want to pass on to the youngsters, to keep their level high and raise that."
Hopefully those words resonated, because Honduras (8pm) will be tough.
They qualified for the Olympics at the expense of the United States and impressed against Romania in their first game in Japan, where the 1-0 scoreline flattered the Europeans.
The Central Americans, who reached the semifinals at the Rio Olympics before being beaten by eventual champions Brazil, are technical, tough and streetwise.
"We will need to be at our best to get something out of that," said Hay. "Hopefully [we will] be able to show a bit more."
