The New Zealand players say they are gutted following their elimination from the soccer World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay.

While Paraguay needed just a draw to get through to the final 16, the All Whites had to win to be sure of advancing, having earlier drawn 1-1 with Slovakia and defending champions Italy.

However, Slovakia sealed their spot in the next round with a stunning 2-3 defeat of Italy, leaving New Zealand in third place and out of contention.

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen told Radio Sport he was disappointed to not make it into the top 16.

"I feel sick. I just wish we could have done a wee bit better," he said.

"All the guys are just so gutted because we know what we've had has been incredible, we just feel like we were so close yet so far, and we wanted to get the country into the next round.

"The whole country's just got behind us and I want to say sorry to them in a way that we were so close and we just didn't get there."

Striker Shane Smeltz was also feeling let down, but was staying positive.

"Everyone can hold their heads up pretty high, we're undefeated at a World Cup. Knowing we're not going through, and obviously being so close as well, but it just wasn't to be," he said.

"Most people before the Cup would have said we wouldn't have achieved what we did in the first game, second game, and then go and draw the third as well. It is a great achievement for New Zealand football and hopefully it projects us from there in the right direction for the future."

Smeltz said Paraguay were a good side and that New Zealand had put in a solid performance against them.

"We defended well, so it was one those games where it would have been nice if we'd got it down and were able to play a little bit.

"They play a high pressure game and didn't really allow us to do that, but you can't really dwell on things, it's gone, and we have to be pretty proud of what we've done."

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