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Agence France-Presse

Chris Wood’s prolific goalscoring for Nottingham Forest is unprecedented for New Zealand football and may never be repeated, the country’s coach said on Thursday.
The centre-forward is in the form of his life, with his eight goals in 11 matches playing a major part in Forest’s strong start to the season in the English Premier League, where they sit fifth.
New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley hopes that the 32-year-old can fire his country to their first World Cup since 2010.
“Everyone wants to talk about Woodsy right now,” Bazeley said on the eve of a home World Cup qualifier against Vanuatu.
“He’s doing amazing … right now what he’s done – this is something that may not happen again, for a New Zealander to be playing at that level, in that form.”

Englishman Bazeley, a defender in his playing days whose clubs included Wolves and Watford, said rugby-mad New Zealand did not fully appreciate how good Wood has been.
The captain has hit 34 goals in 75 games for his country and played for a number of big clubs in England, including Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester and Burnley.
Last week Wood was named Premier League player of the month, the first New Zealander to win the prize.
“It’s hard to comprehend here, the magnitude of what he’s doing,” said Bazeley.
“It’s amazing that he’s such a good Kiwi lad, he’s so passionate about playing for the All Whites.
“He’s definitely flavour of the month, everybody wants a piece of Woodsy at the minute.”
Qualification in Oceania for the 2026 World Cup in North America will come down to a third and final qualifying round in March.


World Cup 2026 qualifiers: New Zealand coach hails ‘amazing’ Chris Wood’s fine Forest form

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Former England captain Gary Lineker to step down as host of Match of the Day after 26 years

Manchester United win, Spurs stunned, Medvedev meltdown, Springboks beat Scots

English Premier League

Nottingham Forest’s New Zealand striker Chris Wood  celebrates with Swedish midfielder team-mate Anthony Elanga (above) after scoring against Leicester City in a Premier League match in October. Photo: AFP

Chris Wood (centre, right) scores for New Zealand against South Korea at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Reuters

Gary Lineker covering an FA Cup  match between Leicester City and Manchester United in March 2021. Photo: PA

Lineker presents his show in his underpants after his boyhood club Leicester won the Premier League. Photo: BBC TV

Gary Lineker (right) scored a hat-trick against Poland at the 1986 World Cup, where he was top scorer. Photo: AFP

Forest’s Wood on fire, Russell fastest in Mexico, 7 arrested over Olympics ceremony abuse

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood is one of the Premier League’s in-form strikers. Photo: Reuters

British driver George Russell in action during the second practice session for the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix. Photo: EPA-EFE

Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Japan, South Korea face away tests on road to North America

At least 78,000 Indonesian spectators will pack out Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and watch on electric screens outside in the hope their team pull off a shock on Friday against Japan. Photo: AFP

Son Heung-Min (second from left) missed South Korea’s past two matches with an injury. Photo: Xinhua

Herve Renard is back for a second spell with Saudi Arabia after Roberto Mancini was sacked. Photo: Reuters

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has called up Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi for the first time in a year. Photo: Kyodo

Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura says he will still play next season – at age 58

Former Japan forward Kazuyoshi Miura playing for second-tier Portuguese club Oliveirense against Academico de Viseu last year. Photo: Kyodo

Ace striker Kazuyoshi Miura (11) scores in Japan’s 5-3 friendly win over Uruguay in 1996. Photo: Reuters

Fantasy Premier League: a good week to pick up some Spurs, skippered by Mohamed Salah

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke carries Brennan Johnson (right) and Pedro Porro in celebration after scoring their second goal against Aston Villa. Porro could be on his last legs, though, FPL wise. Photo: Reuters

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, scoring here against West Ham, has proved a prolific buy. Photo: Reuters

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has scored 31 points in three games, and is a good choice for captain. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Football

Darren Bazeley hopes the high-scoring 32-year-old Premier League star can fire his country to their first World Cup finals since 2010.


Fifa World Cup 2026