https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/300839153/all-whites-star-chris-wood-ruled-out-of-match-against-china-in-wellington
Interim coach Darren Bazeley confirmed Wood’s unavailability in his post-match press conference on Saturday, where he was flanked by midfielder Joe Bell, the likely deputy captain.
With centre-back Tommy Smith suspended after he was sent off in the first game, Bazeley will be forced to make at least one change to his starting 11.
Interim coach Darren Bazeley confirmed Wood’s unavailability in his post-match press conference on Saturday, where he was flanked by midfielder Joe Bell, the likely deputy captain.
With centre-back Tommy Smith suspended after he was sent off in the first game, Bazeley will be forced to make at least one change to his starting 11.
However, he indicated more changes would be made, one of which will see Bell return to central midfield.
Bell started on the bench in the first game after he was one of the last players to arrive, only touching down in New Zealand on Wednesday, the day before the match, after making the long trek from Denmark.
A product of the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy, Bell spent his formative years in Wellington but, like a lot of his younger team-mates, has never played for the All Whites at Sky Stadium.
After watching the 2013 intercontinental playoff against Mexico there as a fan, he was excited about the prospect of returning 10 years later as an All Whites captain.
“It’s been six years since I’ve been back in Wellington and it’s going to be a fantastic game,” Bell said.
“There’s a sense of unfinished business [after Thursday]. The game did change quite drastically with the red card but we felt before that we were in a position to push on and win.”
“Hopefully Sunday is another chance to show what we can do on the pitch and come away [with a win] and score some goals.”