SO MUCH then, for the resurgent South Americans! Spain’s defeat of Paraguay at Ellis Park on Saturday night completed a comprehensive assertion of European dominance at the quarter-final stage of this World Cup, with the Euro 2008 champions now moving on to Durban where the Germans await.
Once again David Villa proved to be the decisive difference between his side and their opponents and his quick-thinking in front of goal was particularly important here for the Paraguayans showed unexpected resilience as they sought to extend their stay in South Africa by at least another few days.
In the end they departed complaining their interest in the competition had been ended by refereeing errors. But, in truth, they had their share of good fortune too when it came to Carlos Batres’ biggest calls of the game, with their opponents denied a clear penalty on a night when two were saved, one retaken and the South Americans had a first half goal disallowed by a controversial offside decision.
“We’ve had all sort of things in this match,” observed one of the winning side’s star performers, Andres Iniesta, afterwards.
“But we knew it was going to be very tough because Paraguay have complicated matters for their rivals. To be amongst the four best teams in the world now feels really great. We’re in the semi-finals and should feel proud. We’ll now start focusing on the match with Germany. We’ve been following them and they have had a spectacular World Cup so far. They are on top form and it will be a spectacular game.”
The Spanish will go into the game as favourites. Two years ago in Vienna they beat their old rivals by a single goal but, in reality, they looked rather more comfortable than that as they eased their way to a second European title.
The overall record between the two countries favours the three -times world champions. But Iniesta and co will prefer to focus on the four most recent competitive encounters, of which the Spanish have won three and drawn one, with their last defeat in a high-stakes encounter coming almost 30 years ago; in Madrid during the World Cup finals of 1982.
“We’ll be playing Germany again but I think it will have nothing to do with what happened two year ago,” insisted the Barcelona midfielder. “Germany have played a brilliant World Cup so far, registered results, are playing very well and are terribly motivated. . . And we are also on top of our game; it’s going to be a beautiful battle. It will be a match between two teams that enjoy having the ball and I think it will be a great game.”
His out-of-sorts team-mate Fernando Torres is clearly pinning his hopes on both sides setting out to take the game to their opponents at the Moses Mabhida stadium on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool striker was again replaced early in the second half after failing to make an impact. Asked whether he had produced his best football at this tournament, the 26-year-old replied: “Hopefully not. But Germany are an offensive team and will try to win and attack and we will have more space and so can approach that game differently than others we have played recently.
“I didn’t arrive at this tournament at the best of times for me because I had problems with my fitness after two surgeries but I’m happy with the things I’m doing . . . . . I’m feeling much better, but I still have to improve.
“Fortunately, David (Villa) has been in great form,” he added “He’s been a very, very important player for us, key for Spain, scoring a lot of goals and he has given us the opportunity to look forward and think we can win the World Cup. This has been his World Cup.”
Perhaps so far, but it may yet be remembered as Miroslav Klose’s, Thomas Mueller’s or Bastian Schweinsteiger’s. The powerful 25- year-old Bayern Munich midfielder was again a major force as his side swept to victory over Argentina and he is quietly confident they can take revenge for the painful defeat in Vienna.
“They’re the best team in the world, in my view,” he said before adding “but we’re good enough, we believe in ourselves.”
