The All Whites - players and coaches - were struggling to keep the smiles from their faces in coming to terms with confirmation of a one-off friendly with soccer giants Brazil in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 4.
"It's unbelievable, incredible. A fantastic coup for New Zealand soccer," said Danny Hay,
who tomorrow will lead the national side in their match against Malaysia in Christchurch.
"It was jaw-dropping stuff when he [coach Ricki Herbert] told the players."
Visions of going up against world stars like Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and Roberto Carlos is the stuff All Whites' dreams are made of.
This will be no friendly kick in a big park for the Brazilians.
"This will not be a recreational game. Not a friendly to the extent we will all go off and have a beer at halftime," said Jean Pierre Frankenhuis, the Brazilian Football Federation's representative in Europe.
"We don't want a one-sided game. This is very important for our coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, who will use this game as his last before going to the World Cup. He will put out his best team.
"His object will be to test team tactics and strategies he will use at the World Cup.
"New Zealand is seen by him as a worthy opponent.
"Like a heavyweight boxer preparing for a title fight, he would not go up against a flyweight."
Frankenhuis, speaking from his base in Bordeaux, France, said Parreira had been adamant that Brazil would not play any World Cup team or any team who had been close to qualifying in their build-up.
"He was aware what happened to France who were one of the favourites for the last World Cup. They played Korea five or six days before the Cup. They played it like it was their final and Zinedine Zidane got hurt.
"As a result, France did not score a goal in their group matches and were eliminated."
The Brazilians have also steered clear of teams who had gone close to winning through to Germany as they felt their opponents could use the match to show they deserved to be there.
"It is not easy to tell a team to take it easy," said Frankenhuis.
New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter could not take the smile off his face as he confirmed "the worst-kept secret of the year".
Seatter approached Croatia, Japan and lastly Brazil - Australia's group F World Cup opponents - at the time of the Cup draw in December in the hope of picking up a game.
He struck the jackpot.
"It is the opportunity to be on the world stage big time," said Seatter.
"Brazil were looking for a game where they would not be kicked off the park. We fitted that bill."
It will be the third time the All Whites have played the five-time World Champions following their 4-0 loss in their final group game at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and again in group play at the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico. Brazil won 2-0.
All Whites coach Herbert and assistant Brian Turner played in the match in Seville. Both, with almost 200 internationals between them, rate it as one the highlights of their careers.
Seatter also confirmed the All Whites will play internationals against Chile in Chile - in, or near, Santiago on April 25 and 27.
The two countries played in Antofagasta in 1995 (Chile won 3-1) before playing out a scoreless draw in Auckland in February 1998.
Chile are ranked 66th in the world, New Zealand are 122.
Seatter is also confident of securing two warm-up matches in Europe before the game against Brazil in Geneva which is expected to attract a full house of 32,000 in a new stadium.
"We don't know who we will play but we are looking for games on or about May 27 or 30 before going to Switzerland," said Seatter.
"They will almost certainly not be against a World Cup side but there are many other options including teams like Wales or Scotland."
The task in front of them
The Brazilians are notorious for scrambling their lineups ... and New Zealand are a long way from picking their side to meet Brazil. But some key match-ups could look like this.
Striker Vaughan Coveny (Newcastle Jets) trying to break a Brazilian defence that includes goalkeeper Dida (AC Milan) and central defender Roberto Carlos - both World Cup winners in 2002.
An Ivan Vicelich, Ryan Nelsen, Danny Hay-led defence against the Cup-winning guile of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Emerson.
The All Whites - players and coaches - were struggling to keep the smiles from their faces in coming to terms with confirmation of a one-off friendly with soccer giants Brazil in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 4.
"It's unbelievable, incredible. A fantastic coup for New Zealand soccer," said Danny Hay,
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