World Cup 2010 - Quarter finals

Paraguay 0 - Spain 1

Paraguay: Justo Villar; Verón, Alcaraz, Da Silva, Morel; Santana, Víctor Cáceres (Barrios 84'), Barreto (Vera 63'), Riveros; Valdez (Santa Cruz 72'), Cardozo. 4-4-2.
Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Piqué, Puyol (Marchena 84'), Capdevila; Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso (Pedro 75'); Iniesta, Fernando Torres (Cesc Fábregas 56'), David Villa. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 83. David Villa. Shot in off both posts after Pedro shot came back off upright.

Spain are in to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history! A late goal from David Villa gave them a narrow victory against a battling Paraguay, and they will go on to Durban to play Germany in a repeat of the European Championship final next Wednesday!

This was never going to be an easy game, and the South Americans could have been ahead at the break had Valdés not had a goal ruled out for a borderline offside. With just under an hour on the clock they had another chance after Piqué held back Cardoso in the area, but Casillas dived low to save the striker's penalty kick. Three minutes later

Spain had their own penalty after Alcaraz pushed over David Villa, the Guatemalan referee letting the defender off with only a yellow card. Xabi Alonso drove home the spot kick, but to everyone's surprise the referee made him take it again for what he considered to be an encroachment of the attacking players. This time Justo Villar saved Alonso's kick, and Fábregas went down under the keeper's challenge on the rebound.

No penalty this time though, and extra time loomed. However with seven minutes to go Pedro fired a shot against the upright, and Villa picked up the rebound and curled a shot which went in off both posts. Spain were ahead, but it still took a double save by Casillas late on from Barrios and Santa Cruz to keep them in front. A nerve wracking finish, but Del Bosque's side are still there!