Nelsen, who plays his club football with Blackburn Rovers, told the Lancashire Telegraph the All Whites won't be in South Africa just for the experience and says they'll want to make an impact.

"I have been in a lot of New Zealand teams before in big competitions and I think we have just been happy to be there," Nelsen said. "This time is different though.

"We are quite experienced, we have a good balanced team and this team is going to be different than before.

"We will be competitive. When you know you are going to be competitive in a game then all it takes is for you to have a good day and for them to have an off day that could be enough."

New Zealand are in Group F, alongside Italy, Slovakia and Paraguay.

Nelsen added: "The three teams we will be playing will probably be looking at us as a walk in the park but I can tell you right now it won't be.

"We played Italy just before the Confederations Cup and we ended up losing. We were winning with 10 minutes to go and lost 4-3 so the Italians might know something unfortunately."

Qualification for the 2010 World Cup ended a 28-year drought for New Zealand and Nelsen says the nation takes a lot of pride in that achievement.

"It means a huge amount to New Zealand," he added. "For a little country like ourselves we pride ourselves on punching above our weight and getting to these world sporting events and so it is something New Zealand is really proud of.

"Everyone is just wishing we can achieve the impossible and maybe snatch a couple of draws or a win somewhere.

"It is dreams come to true stuff. When you are a youngster playing your football this is what dreams are made of. You never think it is going to happen.

"As a kid I used to dream I would play in England but it is like Robin Hood. It was not real, you just thought it was on a different planet.

"It is the same with the World Cup. As a kid you think that would be amazing but Star Wars is more reality. It is surreal knowing we will be there."