Today's 0-0 draw with Paraguay at the soccer World Cup in South Africa was not enough to take New Zealand into the next round, but coach Ricki Herbert was delighted with his team's unbeaten record at the tournament. "I'm just so proud of these guys - to go out unbeaten ata World Cup," Herbert said after the game. 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. 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. "I think I need to pinch myself," Herbert said. "If you are going to exit the World Cup there are good ways of doing it. "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." Police clashed with celebrating New Zealand fans after the match and security held back All Whites players from joining fans in the stands. Police confronted the fans, who had stayed at the stadium to cheer their heroes, using batons to force them out of the stadium. Despite the clashes, police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo denied any major incidents had occurred.
