New Zealand boss Bazeley praises 'really strong performance' against Iran

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] had to twice come from ‌behind to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/iran-xrRx85iA/new-zealand-rLctHkpU/?mid=4tBriEQH"]earn a draw[/a] in their opening World Cup ‌match, an entertaining Group G encounter that featured a ‌brace from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/just-elijah/CxtyLmOd/"]Elijah Just[/a].[/p][p][b]"That may be our best performance ever, or since I've been involved with the All Whites, ‌which is a long time,"[/b] Bazeley said.[/p][p][b]"Overall, ⁠I thought it was ‌a really strong performance and I think we showed the world ​who we are and who our players are."[/b][/p][embed guid="3d4f2c00-337e-45c7-bf67-131ff0ce37de" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2066714395955106282" social-type="twitter" /][p]The draw means all four teams in the group ​have one point after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] drew 1-1 with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] earlier on Monday.[/p][p]It also means New Zealand - in their ⁠third appearance at the ​finals - remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches.[/p][p]Bazeley said his team produced enough quality moments to snatch a victory but acknowledged it hurt to come ‌so close to that elusive win.[/p][p][b]"We came here to win, and today we were so close to making history,"[/b] he said. [b]"We haven't won a game at a World Cup, and we're so close to doing that today, and that hurts."[/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="7b7d8803-118d-479c-a3fb-3cf668cfc667" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="35cf4115-b225-49ad-bfcc-bd590789c561" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]New Zealand looked like they would hold on until Iran's Mohammad Mohebbi headed in a perfect cross to level, a moment Bazeley attributed to one ‌of his team's few defensive lapses.[/p][p]Nevertheless, he predicted his ​players would create more positive moments during the tournament.[/p][p][b]"We've ‌been building and building over the few years in regards to performances,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"And I've said a lot every game we play, we have moments within the games against good teams where we play really ⁠well and create chances. ⁠Today we were more ‌consistent with that."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]