Coach Milena Bertolini attributed Italy's surprising exit from the Women's World Cup to their shaken confidence.

The dented morale played a significant role as South Africa's 3-2 upset in Wellington brought an end to Italy's campaign.

Italy's expectation of progressing required only a draw against their lower-ranked opponents.

However, their failure to capitalize on crucial opportunities, coupled with Thembi Kgatlana's stoppage-time winning goal, sealed their fate.

While they began with a promising 1-0 victory against Argentina, Italy faced a crushing setback with a 5-0 loss to Sweden in their subsequent match.

This devastating defeat left an enduring impact on the team's psyche, making it difficult to regain their footing.

"I'm sure that the game against Sweden and also the goals we conceded effected our trust, our confidence, our peace of mind," she told reporters via a translator.

"It's clear that today the emotional side was actually important, (a) major factor but this is an aspect that is part of the growth that this team has to make."

Their early exit marked the latest major disappointment for Italy after Euro 2022, where they finished bottom of their group following a demoralising 5-1 opening defeat by France.

It is a disappointing trajectory for the team four years after they stunningly reached the World Cup quarter-finals, following a two-decade-long absence from the tournament.

But Bertolini insisted there was cause for optimism.

"We're in a transition period for that historical group of players in 2019 and now we're actually inserting new players, young players," she said.

"This is part of our pathway and perhaps in (the) future, in the next competitions, the Italian national team will have young players that are very experienced, have accrued experience."