FIFA World Cup Soccer 2010: Road to the semi-finals – Spain
Spain was touted as the pre-tournament favourites to win their maiden World Cup title who were expected to negotiate any kind of danger from this group. Life of the reigning European Champions, however, was not any easy one in this group who had definitely the best starting XI in the tournament
Spain 0 Switzerland 1:
The Swiss team had only one plan in their minds when going into group stage - they had decided to keep it tight at the back for the Spaniards and were planning to score on counter attacks if possible. They were looking to get anything from this tough match as their real competition was against Chile and Honduras to win the second spot in the group. The Spanish side kept the ball in their control with a staggering 72% possession in the first half but looked short of ideas and could not convert. In the seventh minute of the second half, disaster struck Spain as its defenders could not clear their lines from a Swiss counter attack and Gelson Fernandes took advantage to put Switzerland ahead. The illustrious Spanish side could not find an equaliser which gave this World Cup its first and probably the biggest shock.
Spain 2 Honduras 0:
Spain was favourites to get their World Cup campaign back on track through a win in this match. Anything less than a win could have ended their dreams of reaching World Cup glory for another 4 years. They played this match with an attacking frame of mind. David Villa scored a goal each in both halves and barely missed a hat-trick had he not put the spot kick wide of the goal post.
Chile 1 Spain 2:
A win in this match would give the Spaniards a place in the knockout stage. More so, they would win the top spot in the group and avoid title favourites Brazil in the Round of 16. David Villa was again in the thick of most of the Spanish attacks and got the opener from a long range shot in an open goal. In the 37th minute, Marco Estrada was sent off for his second bookable offence in the build-up to Andres Iniesta’s goal. Chile fought hard in the second half as Rodrigo Millar got one back in only the second minute after the restart. However, Spain held on to win the match and win the group in the process.
Round of 16 – Spain 1 Portugal 0:
29th of June, 2008 was the day when Spain won their first major title. Both Fernando Torres and David Villa produced early saves from the Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo. Spain looked in firm control of the first half with an odd forward run by the Portuguese team which ended in Tiago’s header over the bar. The Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo was the only man between the sticks to have successfully defended his goal in this tournament but this time he was up against the prowess of David Villa who had become the leading scorer for his nation in the World Cups with six goals. Villa added another to this tally with his fourth goal of the tournament coming in the second attempt against Eduardo. Even after this goal, Portugal failed to produce any clear chances as Cristiano Ronaldo looked completely out of his usual best. The match ended with a rather harsh sending off of Ricardo Costa when he was alleged to have elbowed Joan Capdevila.
Quarter-final – Spain 1 Paraguay 0:
Spain, as expected, enjoyed the higher share of the ball throughout the match but once again could do little in putting it behind the opponent’s defensive line despite showing all the world class skills in the build-up. However, the first few half chances fell to Paraguay through Jonathan Santana and Cristian Riveros. The game came in some flow only after the half hour mark but David Villa and Xavi failed to capitalise to end the half with zero goals. Penalty madness struck the match in the second half to add some spice to the match. Gerard Pique pulled down Oscar Cardozo in the 18-yard box who stood up to hit the spot kick straight into Iker Casillas. Just five minutes later, Spain was awarded a penalty of their own when Antolin Alcaraz fouled against David Villa. Villa was not given to chance to increase his goal tally in the tournament and Xabi Alonso stepped up. Alonso had put the ball in the back of the net but it was ruled out by the referee because of the encroachment in the penalty box by the Spanish players. The second take was saved by the Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar. Just seven minutes before the final whistle, David Villa scored his fifth goal of the tournament to send the Paraguayans packing.
Spain will now battle with Germany for the right to play in the final against either the Netherlands or Uruguay. It will be the first real test for Germany as they have scored four goals each against England and Argentina to become the leading scorers in the tournament. This repeat of the Euro 2008 will be played on the 7th of July in Durban Stadium where Germany thrashed Australia 4-0 and Spain lost to Switzerland in their respective opening matches.
Tags: