it wasn't until the final ten minutes when they started to get that desperate urge.

Try as they might, the Kiwis continued to come up empty handed with Paulo Da Silva and Julio Cesar Caceres proving formidable foes in the heart of the Paraguay defence. The tanks seemed like they were pretty empty by the time Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura blew an end to their fairytale.

Paraguay needed only a draw and they certainly played with a subdued attitude for spells in the game. Their much talked about quick short passing game and intensity was substituted for a defensive strategy and three changes to their starting lineup gave me the impression they were playing with one foot in the next round.

Their tactical approach in pressing high throughout the first halfdidn't enable the likes of Simon Elliott to settle in the midfield. Elliott has great vision but even he found it difficult to get his head up and utilise his distribution qualities with multiple Paraguay defenders swarming around him like a bunch of bees. Perhaps it was a case of tired legs and heavy hearts.

Paraguay, however, did show glimpses of why South American football is king at the tournament so far with Nelson Valdez and Enrique Vera looking the most likely to spark them into action.

The All Whites players and staff must be commended for what has been an unbelievable adventure. This was truly a sporting campaign that has rocked the nation.

It's hard to believe that going into this game we were still in the running to progress