Paraguay line-up: Villar (c), Veron, Morel, Cardozo, Barreto (Vera, 64'), Santana, Da Silva, Caceres (Barrios, 84'), Riveros, Valdez (Santa Cruz, 72'), Alcaraz
Spain line-up: Casillas (c), Pique, Puyol (Marchena, 84'), Iniesta, Villa, Xavi, Torres (Fabregas, 56'), Capdevila, Alonso (Pedro, 75'), Ramos, Busquets
Spain just manage to edge out Paraguay in a game that had two penalties, one of which had to be retaken, should have had a third penalty and a possible sending off also a disallowed goal. This close shave means Spain will play Germany in the semi-finals but unless Torres starts to perform Germany will most definitely have the edge, as David Villa is doing all the work in terms of scoring goals. However it was Paraguay who started the better off as Spain seemed to be relaxed which led to early complacency. Santana forced the first save of the game in just the first minute which Casillas was able to deal with. Paraguay were able to keep Spain quiet by closing the Spanish down as quick as possible and stopping them from their dominance in possession. This made the likes of Villa and Torres very lone figures as service just couldn't arrive to them without numerous defenders around them. Valdez looked the most dangerous for Paraguay at the other end and Spain's defence looked a little shaky. Xavi woke the Spain team up on the half hour mark with a volley that beat Villar but also beat the goal, at the other end Santana came within millimetres of scoring but he failed to get his head to the ball from a decent cross by Morel. Four minutes from half-time Paraguay had the ball in the net but it was disallowed for offside, this decision caused the commentators some confusion but by the letter of the law it was correct; as the cross came in Cardozo was in an offside position but Valdez wasn't, Cardozo attempted to head the ball but missed and it went over his head to Valdez who scored. The flag correctly went up because Cardozo had attempted to play the ball, making him active and therefore offside. but it was a huge warning for Spain as the teams finished level at half-time.
The second half had as little action as the first during the first fifteen minutes with neither goalkeeper made to work. But after the hour mark the game suddenly burst into life; Paraguay earned their first corner and as it was whipped in Barcelona's Gerard Pique held onto Cardozo's arm and brought him to the ground. The Guatemalan referee had no choice but to give a penalty and Paraguay looked set to take the lead over Spain and possibly cause an upset. Cardozo stepped up and like Adiyiah's penalty for Ghana it wasn't struck neatly into the corner and Casillas saved it. A minute later Spain went up the other end and Alcaraz fouled Villa in their box, another penalty was awarded, Alcaraz looked to be the last man as well and was very fortunate not to be sent off. Alonso stepped up and scored the penalty but the Guatemala official disallowed it for encroachment of Spain's part. Take two and this time Villar parried the penalty away where a mad scramble occurred. Villar looked to have taken Fabregas' legs away and Spain should have had a second penalty but the referee didn't see it and the linesman failed to give it. From their it was Spain who took the initiative and began to press, Iniesta forced a good save from Villar and the match was ten minutes away from extra time. Seven minutes from time and the deadlock was broken; Iniesta ran through the Paraguay midfield and played a good ball to substitute Pedro who fired against the post, it came out to Villa who struck the same post before it rolled across the line to hit the other post and the ball bounced over the line for a fortunate lead. Paraguay should have forced extra time when Casillas parried Barrios' shot to Santa Cruz but he couldn't lift the ball over the Spain captain and Paraguay's fight was over. David Villa had a chance at the other to grab his second but curling effort was saved by Paraguay's captain and it is indeed Spain who will play Germany for that place in the final.
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