Villa Sends Spain to Final 8 and Paraguay win on Penalties

Paraguay 5 – Japan 3 (On penalties)
Match Report

After a very disappointing match which ended goalless at the end of extra time, Paraguay managed to score all five of their penalties to knock Japan out and progress of the next round.

Japan were in agony as Yuichi Komano’s kick from the spot brushed the crossbar and went over the goal and the teams World Cup came to an end. Like Paraguay they were hoping to reach the quarter finals for the first time and they were closer to scoring in the actual game when Daisuke Matsui’s long range strike in the first half hit the cross bar.

Japan’s coach had said before the tournament that he would like to see his team go to the semi finals but in the end neither side in this match really tried to score and it was his side that suffered the most.

So far Paraguay have only lost one game in this World Cup and were defensively excellent against Japan who in previous games had look fairly dangerous on the attack.

Japan managed two long distance attacks at the Paraguay goal in the first few minutes of the match, but it soon became a very scrappy game. The Japanese sat deep attempting to always block the opposition, whilst Paraguay conceded a series of niggling fouls every time that the Japanese attacked.

Throughout the whole opening half there was only one interesting minute. There was a good turn from Lucas Barrios which left two Japanese defenders very confused, he then made an excellent shot with the outside of his right boot but it was saved.

A few seconds later Matsui made a long range effort which crashed into Paraguay’s goal’s crossbar. Matsui later gave Honda a chance, Honda tried to strike first time from 20 yards which was a mistake as he easily had the space to take an initial touch.

The first half ended goalless with a final attempt from Roque Santa Cruz but he missed from close to the spot.

The second half was also very uneventful, Yuji Nakazawa blocked an Edgar Benitez strike and Christian Riveros headed a shot wide after a near post run.

Yuto Nagatomo made a shot which was deflected by Carlos Bonet and there was an attack from Komano which really highlighted what the team are lacking in terms of attacking quality under pressure.

Neither team managed to put much pressure on the match, however, Paraguay did seem to be a bit better at the start of extra time. Barrios attempted a header but it was saved by Kawashima and he also stopped a shot from Nelson Valdez who managed to get through the Japanese defence with a sharp turn.

In the end a penalty shootout seemed inevitable, however, neither keeper came very close to making a save and it was just Komano’s miss that decided the game.

Spain 1 – Portugal 0
Match Report

It is exactly two years since Spain beat Germany to win Euro 2008 and once again the team have shown that their style of passing football is as effective as ever.

Spain managed to survive a number of missed chances by Portugal in the first half but as soon as Villa managed to score in the 63rd minute the team never looked like they were going to lose.

Ricardo Costa was sent off for a clash with Spanish player Joan Capdevila but this was a while after the games result already looked fixed. Spain will be worried though by Fernando Torres’ form as they face Paraguay in the last eight, it seems that he is still feeling the effects of the knee operation that he had in April.

Torres did have a shot at the beginning, testing Eduardo with a curling shot, but he very quickly faded into obscurity and it was Portugal who looked a bit better before half time.

Eduardo had to work hard though, Villa made him produce an excellent save and Xavi fired a first time shot from a corner, however, after these two scares Portugal seemed to find a way to hold Spain back and also threaten the other end of the pitch.

Cristiano Ronaldo had to attempts at long range from free kicks, on the second attempt Iker Casillas let the ball through his fingers but Gerard Pique managed to stop it.

Simao made a deep cross to Almeida who then missed the target and Tiago also wasted a good opening when he headed a ball wide from Coentrao’s driven centre.

Spain should have picked up their defence after these warnings but early in the second half they were lucky to escape when Almeida’s cross span off Carlos Puyol and went just past the far post.

However, this was the final time which Portugal really tested Spain. Nonetheless it wasn’t until Fernando Llorente came off the bench that Spain seemed to come to life. Very quickly Llorente met a cross from Ramos with a header that went straight at Eduardo, however this time it wasn’t to be.

But in the next attack Xavi used his clever back heel to pass Villa, Villa’s first shot was saved but he hit the roof of the net off the rebound.  From this moment on Spain grew in confidence and Portugal didn’t seem to know how to make an equaliser.

Spain should have made it 2 – 0 but Eduardo saved shots from both Ramos and Villa and then Llorente headed the ball wide.  However, they have secured their place in the last eight and will be happy with the result.