Final score: 0 - 0 - Three draws won't be enough for New Zealand as they are out of the World Cup. Meanwhile, Slovakia have finished off Italy with a 3-2 win to advance as runners-up behind now-confirmed group winners Paraguay.

Nothing here for New Zealand as they struggle to keep possession of the ball.

Fabio Quagliarella makes it 3-2 as Italy keep scrapping.

Foul by New Zealand

Foul by New Zealand - The All Whites concede a free kick on the edge of the area, and they need to get possession back. It just may not be meant to be. Three minutes added on.

Foul by New Zealand

Offside for New Zealand - Lochhead with a nice cross for a sliding Wood, but the latter is offside.

Free kick swung by Wood, but it's deflected out to Bertos. His service back in is also blocked out. A bit nervous there from Paraguay.

Foul by Paraguay

Foul by New Zealand

Just moments after Barrios sends a header wide, we learn that Antonio Di Natale has pulled one back for Italy with nine minutes to play. A chance yet for the Italians, but it still doesn't change the fact that New Zealand need a goal.

Header on goal goes wide by Paraguay

Shot on goal by Paraguay - Good effort on the free kick by Santa Cruz, but it's right at Paston for a simple parry.

Foul by New Zealand - Smith with a tackle on Santa Cruz concedes a free kick in the center of the pitch about 30 yards out.

J. Brockie enters the game and replaces C. Killen.

Desperation starting to set in now for New Zealand, and we'll have a substitution with Killen withdrawn in favor of Jeremy Brockie.

Again it's Paston making a great play to thwart the Paraguayan attack. The ball is slid forward for the charging Santa Cruz, but Paston comes off his line to make the touch away just at the last moment.

Shot on goal by Paraguay - Wow, that was nearly the end of it for New Zealand. Benítez fires from the center of there, but Paston makes the sense. He also recovers nicely to touch the rebound away from Barrios. Great work from Paston, but New Zealand lucky to not be behind.

My word, incredible stuff coming from Johannesburg. It's 2-0 to Slovakia, and it's Vittek in the 73rd minute with his second of the match. Italy on the way out, and New Zealand will be as well unless they can find a winner here.

Foul by Paraguay

Foul by New Zealand

Foul by Paraguay - Free kick to New Zealand after Vicelich is bundled over by Víctor Cáceres. Nothing to the set piece, though.

Benítez tries to wriggle his way through Reid on the left, but he's unsuccessful and the ball rolls on for Paston to clear.

C. Wood enters the game and replaces R. Fallon.

Now a sub made by New Zealand as Chris Wood replaces Fallon in like-for-like change in the All Whites attack.

E. Benítez enters the game and replaces N. Valdez.

Shot wide of goal by Paraguay - Barrios immediately tries to make an impact, but his tight-angled shot from the right side of the area is well wide. He may have been better served to tee up fellow sub Benítez on the opposite side of the area.

L. Barrios enters the game and replaces Ó. Cardozo.

We'll get all the changes now. Cardozo is coming off in place of the aforementioned Barrios, and Valdez is off as well in place of Edgar Benítez.

Attacking subs awaiting for Paraguay with Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios among them.

Corner kick for Paraguay

Shot on goal by Paraguay - Caniza centers to Riveros in the middle, but his header is parried away by Paston. The rebound is deflected out for another corner, but New Zealand clear. Best chance of the game thus far for either team.

Corner kick for Paraguay - Newsworthy as this is the first corner for either side in this game.

An hour gone here in Polokwane with the score still blanks for both sides. Who, if anyone, will produce the moment of magic?

Foul by Paraguay

Shot over the goal by Paraguay - Cardozo takes the free kick, but he can't keep it down. It's the story of the tournament as the ball just seems to sail on everyone.

R. Nelsen gets yellow.

Foul by New Zealand - Nelsen concedes a free kick and is booked for a foul on his old Blackburn teammate Santa Cruz.

Another tussle there between Roque Santa Cruz and Winston Reid, and the latter wins the goal kick. Reid has been one of the standout performers so far for New Zealand in this tournament.

Foul by New Zealand - Free kick swung in from the left corner is blocked out as far as Vera, but his deflected shot is gathered by Paston before a corner can be conceded.

Offside for New Zealand

Shot wide of goal by New Zealand - That was the best chance of the game thus far for New Zealand. The ball falls favorably to Elliott on the edge of the area, but his right-footed drive just swerves to the wrong side of the post.

The other match in Johannesburg is also back under way, only a few seconds behind us here. Still Slovakia holding that 1-0 lead over Italy.

The second half is under way 0 - 0

Halftime score: 0 - 0

Into stoppage time now. A single minute more.

Good free kick from enter flown in by Simon Elliott, but it just sails past everyone including the final run of Ivan Vicelich.

Foul by Paraguay

Paraguay have definitely had the better of the play here in the first half, but they will have to do more to trouble Paston or a goal could be difficult to come by against this All Whites side.

R. Santa Cruz gets yellow.

Foul by Paraguay - Bit of a harsh challenged by Roque Santa Cruz on Killen, and the referee has brandished his second card of the day.

Shot over the goal by Paraguay - Cardozo, the man who dazzled at Benfica last season, finally gets a shot. The bending effort of his left boot, however, clears the bar.

Foul by New Zealand

Leo Bertos with a good cross on the right, but again the ball is right into Villar's hands with Plymouth Argyle striker Fallon making the run from center.

Shot on goal by Paraguay - A speculative drive by Valdez from over 30 yards is low and easy for Paston to save. That is, however, the first shot on target for either side.

Good ball up top from Caniza looking for Valdez, but Winston Reid's positioning helps to shepherd the ball into the arms of Paston.

Foul by New Zealand - Lofted cross seeks out Killen at the top of the area, but his arm catches Julio César Cáceres and a foul is called.

Foul by New Zealand

Dangerous cross as Killen lofts it from the right for Fallon, but it's too close to Justo Villar who gathers. If memory serves, that might well be Villar's first significant touch of the game.

Shot over the goal by Paraguay - Caniza really wants a goal, doesn't he? He's getting nearer the target each time, this effort just going a meter or so over the bar.

That goal should change the dynamic here just a bit, though New Zealand are not yet in panic mode. They'll most certainly need a goal now as long as Slovakia stay in front in the other game.

Big news coming from Ellis Park in Johannesburg as Robert Vittek has given Slovakia a 1-0 lead over Italy in the 25th minute. If these results hold, it would be Slovakia through as runners-up behind Paraguay. More than nervous moments now for the Azzurri. We'll keep you posted.

Foul by Paraguay - Off the throw, Cardozo trips up Ryan Nelsen and concedes a free kick.

Enrique Vera finally gets a touch on the ball in a dangerous spot on the right, but his attempted cross is blocked out by Tommy Smith.

Foul by New Zealand

There is a bit of an honor bestowed upon Caniza for his appearance today. He becomes the only footballer in the history of Paraguay to compete in four World Cup finals.

Shot wide of goal by Paraguay - A shot by Víctor Cáceres is blocked out to that man Caniza. He of only one international goal in what is now his 98th appearance fires wide.

Shot over the goal by Paraguay - Again it's the skipper Caniza coming forward, but he loops a shot over the bar.

Foul by New Zealand

Nelson Valdez skips down the left side - somehow keeping the ball out of touch - but the cross in for Cardozo is off the mark. Good bit of a skill shown by Valdez, but a poor ending to the move.

Shot wide of goal by Paraguay - The free kick is deflected back out to the top for Caniza, but the shot is off the mark.

Foul by New Zealand - Killen takes down Morel on the left side, and it's a free kick for Paraguay.

And we have our first booking to Víctor Cáceres for standing down on Fallon from behind. He'll miss Paraguay's next match. On the free kick, it's a good service to the near-side post, but just ahead of the run of ex-Celtic man Chris Killen.

V. Cáceres gets yellow.

Foul by New Zealand - A handball by Morel on the right touchline concedes a free kick, but Rory Fallon's foul in the area gives it right back.

Foul by Paraguay

Foul by Paraguay

Paraguay looking the better of the two sides coming forward, but given the difference in quality that isn't entirely unexpected. New Zealand, however, know they will need to find more ambition going forward to have hopes at an improbable qualification.

Shot wide of goal by New Zealand - Shane Smeltz does well to split his markers en route to the edge of the area, but pressure from Denis Caniza forces the shot wide.

Foul by Paraguay

Claudio Morel swings in the free kick, but it's overhit and into the arms of Mark Paston, who remains in goal despite Glen Moss being available after suspension.

The match is under way - Your referee for this crucial encounter is Japan's Yuichi Nishimura, and right off the bat he whistles for a free kick to Paraguay about 40 yards out on the right.

It's all to play for today from Group F in Polokwane as Paraguay take on New Zealand with both sides very much alive to qualify for the Round of 16. For Paraguay, they need but a draw to ensure progression to the knockout rounds, but New Zealand must win the game to ensure progress. Lesser results could see each side through, but the result of the other match in the section between Italy and Slovakia would then come into play. Paraguay surprisingly make three changes from the side that beat Slovakia. Denis Caniza and Julio Cáceres replace Antolin Alcáraz and Carlos Bonet in defense, and Lucas Barrios is withdrawn up front in favor of Óscar Cardozo. New Zealand, on the other hand, name an unchanged starting XI with Tim Brown still unfit to take part.