NEW ZEALAND

What Ronaldo is for Portugal, Wood is for the All Whites - goalscorer and endlessly loyal to his country, so fans have been fretting about his fitness in the World Cup buildup. An inspiration for youngsters, he’s “the poster boy of the All Whites, he's definitely the standout”, RNZ journalist Matthew Nash wrote before the knee injury that derailed his latest Premier League season. Wood had an outstanding campaign in 2024-25, becoming the first Forest player in 30 years to score 20 plus goals in a season and the first Kiwi to be voted Premier League player of the month. The youngest ever All Whites captain says: “Playing for my country makes me extremely proud and honoured.” Returned from knee surgery in April and is hopeful of staying at the top for some time: “I'm not one with blistering pace, so I'm never gonna lose it. So that's good coming into my older years where I can actually still continue to do what I did when I was 22 years old.”

Just is of Chinese descent through his mother. Despite his small 1.70m frame, he is comfortable with headers and is a smart attacker who thrives in tight spaces. He is often used on the right-wing or as an attacking midfielder for both club and country. He debuted for the All Whites at just 19 and says it has been rewarding to move from being a fan to wearing the strip, especially having his parents in the stand when the side qualified for the World Cup against New Caledonia in March 2025. It was “pretty special”, he told RNZ. Signing for Motherwell last year was another important step in ensuring his form would help him earn selection and game time at the World Cup, he told the Friends of Football website.