INGLEWOOD, California - New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley dismissed the political backdrop surrounding his team’s World Cup opener against Iran on Monday, insisting the squad is focused entirely on football.
“We prepare the same for every international game that we play, and we’ve done nothing different for this game,” Bazeley said. “For us, it's a big game because it's a World Cup game, and we want to do well here at the World Cup.”
Captain Chris Wood, the nation’s all-time top scorer, echoed the sentiment. “All we've been focused on is football. Once you go through the white lines, nothing else matters.”
The match is set to draw a massive crowd, with a significant Iranian diaspora presence expected in Los Angeles. Bazeley noted his players are thriving on that energy. “All the players prefer playing in big crowds and big atmospheres. It's what we came to the World Cup for.”
Returning to the tournament after a 16-year absence, New Zealand faces a formidable Iran side ranked 20th in the world. However, Wood believes recent tight tournament matches level the playing field. “It's exciting that mostly all the games have been quite tight and quite close, and everybody's had a chance to win. That gives us confidence.”