2010 World Cup quarter final preview: Paraguay v Spain
Pre-tournament predictions are proving right for one of these sides and wrong for the other. One was supposed to be here, the other wasn’t.
The Paraguayans have made it without looking overly impressive at all, but always getting the job done nonetheless.
A draw against Italy in their opening game was followed by an unspectacular victory over Slovakia and goalless draws with New Zealand and Japan, the latter beaten on penalties after one of the dullest matches of the tournament.
It’s their first quarter final though, and so obviously the achievement has to be lauded, even if the players themselves know that they haven’t yet hit the heights.
“This [record] is more for the people in Paraguay,” said Roque Santa Cruz, “we're football players, we're used to playing in teams that win every game.
“Even if we're very pleased and happy that we qualified, we didn't expect to go to penalties against Japan, we expected to be far better than we have been playing. We have not reached our potential yet, we want to keep improving, play better and keep progressing.”
A quarter final berth without playing well then, but you get the impression that rapid improvement will be needed if Spain are to be beaten, even if they haven’t exactly impressed in the way that most thought they would.
Never mind Paraguay’s first quarter final, Spain want to create some history of their own.
“We know we're in good shape,” says boss Vicente del Bosque, as the Spanish go for their first ever semi final appearance, “it's been more than 30 days together training as a team and I think these players want to make history.
“Paraguay, like all of the South American teams, show so much character, with players who exercise great pressure. They are players who know their trade, with the ball or without, and they have a similar style to Chile. If you had to choose one of the other seven in the quarter-finals, I don't know which one would be the easiest.”
Maybe it would be easier for the Spanish if the dark haired, surly Fernando Torres that’s been seen at these finals started to resemble the blond, free-scoring forward that we see in the Premier League, not that del Bosque is dropping him, yet.
“It's impossible to avoid such a debate [about Torres] at a tournament like this because everyone has an opinion and it's good that they are expressed,” said the coach.
“Our forward at the moment is Fernando Torres. He has played a part in all four matches, quite a few minutes, and he'll play more. We have full confidence in him,” before adding, ominously for the Liverpool forward, “and we also know that Fernando Llorente can bring a lot to the team.”
He’ll start then, but as he continues to get all of the bad headlines, it is his strike partner who is getting all of the good ones. Raúl is Spain’s all time leading goalscorer with 44 goals in 102 games. David Villa has 42 in 62.
Four goals in this tournament have got Spain this far, but he’s been busy defending his mate.
“The only thing you can 'reproach' Torres for is not to have scored yet,” he told Spanish TV.
“His desire to be with the team is truly spectacular. We know what state his knee was in a month ago and I do not agree with those people who say that Fernando Torres' performances have been below par.”
Villa’s defiant that his strike partner is on the brink of exploding into the tournament then, but even if he doesn’t here then the Spanish will surely win.
Its Paraguay’s first quarter final, but they are unlikely to go further.
Spain’s first semi-final beckons.
Prediction: Paraguay 0 Spain 2
Tags: