Just's 'incredible' World Cup 'adds zeros' to Well value

Chris Wood (right) set up both goals for Elijah Just (centre) [Reuters] Elijah Just was left "a little disappointed" despite scoring twice as New Zealand started their World Cup with a 2-2 draw with Iran that had BBC pundit Chris Sutton suggesting had "added a couple of zeros" on to the Motherwell midfielder's transfer value. The 26-year-old became the first Well player to score at a World Cup - and his country's top scorer ever at a finals - with two sublime finishes at Los Angeles Stadium. "It is a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life," Just said while paying tribute to captain Chris Wood, the 34-year-old Nottingham Forest striker, for setting up both goals. "Obviously incredible. It's not something I could have even dreamt of, so I'm just so happy. One was nice, so two was amazing." Just, who was bought by Well from Danish club Horsens on a two-year contract last summer, has now scored 11 goals in 45 appearances for the All Whites but had mixed emotions considering they only took a point from a game they dominated and led twice. "It is really, really special," he said. "We have a lot of goals coming into this tournament and the first was to get on the board, so one point is okay. "There are a lot of positives we can keep building on. "We were unfortunate to miss out on the last World Cup, so being here today was such an amazing feeling and, to start with a point, I think everybody is happy, but coming into the tournament our goal was to get out the group, so we're almost a little disappointed because it could have been three points." Asked if New Zealand had surprised many with their opening performance at their first World Cup in 16 years, Just replied: "If people were surprised, maybe they haven't been following us, because we have such a talented group and we work really hard." All four sides have a point in Group G after Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 earlier. "We know we have tough opponents," Just added. "We all watched the Egypt-Belgium game and we know how strong they are, so we've got a lot of work to do. "A point in the World Cup is always tough to get, so a huge amount of confidence. It was almost a perfect game except for the result. "I think we showed today we are a dangerous team, a team that's good with or without the ball."