New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen says keeping Roque Santa Cruz quiet is key to beating Paraguay.

The pair spent two years together at Blackburn and Nelsen is well aware of the threat the Manchester City striker can pose.

Kiwi skipper Nelsen said: "Roque's a friend and I'm looking forward to going up against him. City paid £18million for him, so he can't be too bad.

"When the draw was made, I went round to Roque's house with a baseball bat but he'd bolted the door!"

New Zealand were rank outsiders at the start of the tournament but drew with Slovakia in their first game and then stunned Italy by taking a point.

Nelsen added: "A draw might get us through. It's really exciting, the last game in the group and we're still in it. Everyone back home has just gone crazy.

"Around the world, New Zealand are like everyone's second team now. It's a real Cinderella story."