Chris Wood breaks 15-year drought, highlighting the power of sporting legacy

When it comes to the rich sporting rivalry that exists between Kiwis and Aussies, football is not the first sport that springs to mind. Now, if you’re reading this in Europe, the idea that two nations would not have a fierce rivalry in the beautiful game might seem hard to comprehend. However, New Zealand and Australia are known for their world-class skills in other sports, most notably rugby union, in the case of New Zealand, and cricket, in the case of Australia.

That’s not to say that either New Zealand or Australia is keen on the idea of losing to the other. The Soccer Ashes between the two international teams has existed for over 100 years, but as attendance shows, there are other sports that the two nations focus on.

The Pride of Oceania

It’s a straight shootout between Australia and New Zealand to see which team has the bragging rights. They’re two sporting cultures that have deep-rooted, intertwining connections.

Despite the similarities and the fact that there’s a (mostly) friendly rivalry between the two, the Pride of Oceania is a title that both teams fight tooth and nail to attain.

Chris Wood’s star power

Some in the British press have stated that Wood’s sensational form at Forest might make him a one-season wonder. However, his start to the season has helped to allay these fears, as has his international form for the All Whites.

Although the final result from the Soccer Ashes will not be the outcome the captain was hoping for, there will be a small semblance of personal pride that he was able to end the 15-year drought that had occurred in the fixture. It was an extremely unwanted record that Kiwis were not happy about, and, despite the result, it’s at least one moniker that they have safely put to bed. For fans, it almost felt like beating the odds, the kind usually talked about in contexts as different as sports betting or online casinos NZ is known to regulate — a reminder of how competition and chance are part of every rivalry between the two nations.

Few Kiwi players have made an impact in the English game. For a country the size of New Zealand, though, and considering that soccer is not a sport that is widely played, a player of Wood’s quality rarely comes around. He’s the figurehead of both the international team and the Forest team, which came within a whisker of qualifying for the Champions League. If any player was going to end this drought, it was always likely to be him.

Form is temporary, class is permanent

With the 2026 World Cup edging ever closer and fan anticipation growing by the day, the All Whites will be hopeful that their star striker is going to be fit for the big competition, which takes place across the North American continent next winter.

Despite some naysayers doubting that Wood will be able to keep performing to the level he has since the start of the 2023 season, some Kiwis are more hopeful for the World Cup. With 48 teams now entering the 2026 World Cup, rather than the usual number of 32, hopefully the All Whites will stand a better chance of putting in a decent showing, unlike the last World Cup they qualified for in 2010, when they went out of the competition without winning a game.

Final thoughts

Few players have the commitment and the focus to perform at the top level, but Wood has proven he fits into this bracket. If any player is going to grab the All Whites by the scruff of their neck and surprise a few people at the World Cup next year, then it is likely to be the captain who leads the charge.

The Soccer Ashes 2026 will be taking place a few weeks after the World Cup. Although the Aussies have historically put in a better performance than the New Zealanders, the Kiwis will be hopeful that Wood can stay fit. If he can, he will help to provide the team with direction, purpose and a killer touch in front of goal- something they have sorely missed in other major international games and tournaments.

It’s been a long time since they had Wynton Rufer leading the line, who was the last Kiwi striker to impress in Europe. With Wood turning 34 in December, it could be his last World Cup. He will be eager to make his mark and have a career-defining tournament that will help to shape his legacy as one of NZ’s best of all time.

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