Commendable performance proves New Zealand merit a place at the World Cup, coach asserts

Iran needed to fight back from a deficit on two occasions to secure a draw in their first World Cup match, a lively Group G contest that saw New Zealand's Elijah Just score twice.

"That might be our finest performance ever, or at least since I have been part of the All Whites which is a considerable period," Bazeley stated.

"On the whole, I considered it a very strong performance and I believe we demonstrated to the world our identity and the calibre of our players."

The result leaves all four sides in the group with a single point, following Belgium's 1-1 draw with Egypt earlier on Monday.

It also signifies that New Zealand, competing in their third finals, have yet to register a victory in a World Cup after seven matches.

Bazeley remarked that his side created sufficient high-quality opportunities to claim a win but admitted it was painful to come so close to that long-sought triumph.

"We arrived here with the intention to win, and today we came within touching distance of making history," he said. "We have never won a World Cup match, and we were so near to doing so today, and that is painful."

New Zealand appeared set to hold on until Iran's Mohammad Mohebbi headed in a precise cross to equalise, a moment Bazeley ascribed to one of his side's occasional defensive errors.

Nevertheless, he anticipated that his players would generate further positive moments throughout the tournament.

"We have been steadily improving over the past few years in terms of our performances," he said.

"And I have often said that in every match we play, there are spells where we perform really well against good opponents and create opportunities. Today we were more consistent in that regard."