Although better known as a rugby nation, New Zealand's All Whites are relishing the spotlight and basking in a wave of support at home after reaching only their second World Cup.
"It's very humbling, it's very exciting," captain Ryan Nelsen told reporters ahead of their first Group F match against Slovakia on Tuesday.
"We want to win. We have proved over the past four or five matches that we are very competitive."
"Did you see the games? No, obviously you didn't," he asked one reporter. "We were really pleased to beat Serbia away, a top 15 ranked side ... I think we are in a very good space."
"The current group of players have worked very well to bring the nation back to a World Cup," he said.
Nelsen, who captains Blackburn Rovers in England's Premier League, said he was looking forward to a tough contest against a well organised Slovakia unit.
"We know after playing Serbia and Slovenia that they (Slovakia) will be very similar. They are strong, very disciplined, very organised.
"We've got a lot of respect for what they did in qualifying and their team, all round, is very solid," he said.
"They are one of those teams that are going to be very awkward to play against, kind of like ourselves."
"I've got a lot of friends in the Australian team so it kind of hurts a wee bit but the Kiwi always comes out of you," he said. "I shed some crocodile tears, I think."
