Black Sticks striker Nick Wilson is at a loss to explain why the side could not carry their encouraging warm-up form into the men's hockey tournament at the London Olympics.
Wilson scored a brilliant solo goal to draw New Zealand level against Belgium on Sunday but they could not find another goal to keep their slim hopes of making the semi-finals alive.
The Black Sticks had beaten Spain and Great Britain in pre-Olympic practice matches but have so far managed only one win from their four matches - a 3-1 victory over India.
"We just haven't been ourselves this tournament. I don't know what to put it down to, maybe the occasion got to us, or we just didn't play as a team, I think there are a number of things we could put it down to," Wilson said.
The team needed to beat Belgium to have any chance of being in contention for the medals but the 1-1 draw ended their hopes.
The match was scoreless at halftime and Belgium struck first after the break via Tom Boon 13 minutes into the half, scooping the ball over Kyle Pontifex in the Black Sticks' goal.
Wilson levelled matters six minutes later with a piece of magic, beating two defenders and slipping the ball past goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch.
New Zealand almost stole the match at the last, but a Andy Hayward shot from a penalty corner with less than a minute left cannoned off the post.
They have four points from their four matches with a win, draw and two losses and face Germany in their final match on Tuesday.
Wilson says now their semi-final hopes are gone their aim is now to finish as high as they can.
"Medals are out of place now so we're just going to go for fifth. It's not over for us and we know our goal, so we're just going to fight on like Kiwis do."