Today's 4-2 win over Pakistan in the Champions Challenge men's hockey final has sealed New Zealand's status as a world-class team, coach Shane McLeod said.
The victory in Argentina this morning qualified the team for a place in next year's elite six-nation Champions Trophy in Monchengladbach, Germany.
With the scores tied 2-2 at halftime following goals from midfielder Ryan Archibald and captain Phillip Burrows, the Black Sticks were forced to fight hard in the second half.
They were rewarded for their work with two goals in quick succession, 19-year-old striker Nick Wilson scoring in the 65th minute and Burrows finding the back of the net for a second time a minute later.
"It probably wasn't as we scripted, because we had to defend a lot in that second half, but to get two goals towards the end - and good goals - we were really happy," McLeod said.
"The first half we could have made the game a little bit easier, I thought there were things we weren't doing so well defensively and that was adding a bit more pressure.
"Then they started to apply even more pressure on top of that so for large periods we were just camped out in our 25, and that's not really the style we wanted to play."
McLeod said it was pleasing to see the team up their attack and get their just desserts.
"It needed something more aggressive and when we got those last two goals they came from quite aggressive play."
While Pakistan had put in a strong performance against India in the semifinal, McLeod said he felt the team had slipped somewhat in today's game, particularly in converting just one of seven penalties.
"Our penalty corner, we defended that really well, but I'd also suggest that they weren't on top form for themselves today," he said.
"Today things were a lot tighter for them, so they had to work quite a lot harder for their attack and so on, it was quite a good match up."
Goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex's efforts were acknowledged when he was named the goalkeeper of the tournament.
Next year's Champions Trophy will be the first for New Zealand since 2005 and the first ever with McLeod leading the side.
"It's a huge event, once you start playing in that type of tournament your game just develops so much because in every game you've got to be at your very best to compete with those teams," McLeod said.
"We've often suggested that we're sitting amongst that group anyhow, but today I felt that we proved that we are right up there with the world's best."
