A scoreless draw with Paraguay was not enough to take New Zealand into the next round of the World Cup, but did little to scotch coach Ricki Herbert's delight.

"I'm just so proud of these guys - to go out unbeaten at a World Cup," Herbert said following the game.

While Paraguay needed only a point 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.

Instead, it was left to the other encounter in Group F to provide the big shock, with Italy, the four-time World Cup winners, being eliminated via a stunning 2-3 defeat.

The upshot was that Paraguay topped the group, with Slovakia also going into the knockout stages, but Italy suffered the ignominy of finishing bottom.

"I think I need to pinch myself. If you are going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it," Herbert said.

"A lot of people thought we shouldn't be here and that we had amateurs who were not up to it, but I think that's dead and buried now.

"Everybody played well, they all contributed on the highest level."

New Zealand's performance at the tournament was in contrast with 1982, the only other time the team have appeared in a World Cup, when they recorded three losses.

"It's our second time at the World Cup and to completely reverse what we've done before is quite amazing. The future looks bright for the team," Herbert said.

The match in Polokwane was a largely pedestrian affair before keeper Mark Paston was called on to make a series of late saves as Paraguay upped the tempo in search of the winner.

Paraguay dominated possession in the match and put up five shots on goal, while New Zealand made none.

Early on striker Shane Smeltz created a chance when he cut past three defenders and fired wide, and, in the second half, midfielder Simon Elliott was just wide with a snap shot from the edge of the box.

However, that was all the All Whites' attack really delivered.

Far more noteworthy was the team's defence, with Paston truly proving his worth, stopping three shots on goal in the final quarter.

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