Matchday Special: Spain v Paraguay, WC Quarterfinals

What a difference a day or two can make.

That says it all, really

On Thursday, pundits the world over were marveling at how this had turned into a South American World Cup.  With the way the Round of 16 had shaken out, there was a chance that all four semi-finalists would be from that continent.  Added to that was the sudden belief in the abilities of Diego Maradona as a football manager.  Excuse me, while I laugh at that thought one more time.

I will admit that I’m surprised at how easily the Germans handled the kamikaze minded Argentines.  With Per Mertesacke’s nervous efforts so far in the competition and the quickness of Tevez, Messi, et al, I had thought the contest would be fought tooth and claw and that the lack of a cohesive back line and strong goal keeping would ultimately do in the Albiceleste. I wasn’t expecting the Germans to toy with their opponents like a well fed cat with a helpless mouse.

Still, it certainly was an enjoyable experience to see the original Hand of God dealt some comeuppance less than 24 hours after a pathetic clone was undesirably foisted upon the world.  Equally, it gives me opportunity to see Rob Hughes, the NY Times author of this piece, choke down his words, one syllable at a time.

The major reason we can do without the Luis Suarez' of the world

Have I mentioned that I have a particular dislike for Diego Maradona?  Or that I’m supposed to be telling you about the Spain/Paraguay match to decide the last semi-finalist?

Sorry about that.  It’s just that it’s been a wild fourty-eight hours in South Africa.  Brazil has turned out to have a glass jaw, with the Dutch knocking them silly with one punch, Ghana, and Africa, have been unceremoniously dumped out by an unapologetic and less than humble Urugayan side and, finally,  Germany have taken the tournament and Argentina buy the throat and shaken very, very vigorously.  With all that happening in the other quarter final matches, and the one-sidedness (can you say defense?) of the Paraguayan outfit, I hope you’ll forgive me for not expecting the remaining game to add to the insanity.

The opening exchange almost proved me wrong.  Oscar Cardozo flicked on for Jonathan Santana to break in free on Iker Casillas.  Unfortunately, he struck the ball directly into the arms of the Spanish captain.  The shaky start for the Iberians was revisited on eight minutes when Casillas dawdled over a clearance.  Nelson Valdez rushed in and blocked it but the ball bounded wide of the goal.

Sgt. Bilko was raving on the touch line for Paraguay, as usual

From this point, the match settled into a predictable pattern.  Spain began to dominate possession, working their short passing game.  Paraguay settled back, concentrating on defence, while looking for opportunities to counter.  Those chances came and Gerrardo Martino had coached his charges well to take full advantage of Sergio Ramos’ laziness in getting back.

Spain didn’t have much success penetrating the Paraguayan 18.  Fernando Torres was still very unsettled over the ball and David Villa hadn’t been able to find his range in the early going.  Andres Iniesta had some effect, working inside more in this match than in previous ones.

Five minutes before the half, the South Americans came down the right side, for a change, on the break.  A cross into the box found Valdez, both offside and off balance.  His first touch bounced up and hit his outstretched left arm.  The deflection fell to his feet and he buried the ball in the twine.  Sanity was maintained for the moment, though, the shrill scream of Guatemalan referee, Carlos Batres’, whistle quelling the momentary hopes of Larissa Riquelme and her compatriots.

Sorry, the Luis Suarez School of Handball is temporarily closed

Soon after, Valdez streaked in one more time, from the left, as Sergio Ramos watched from mid-field.  His shot was well over the bar, however.  The half remained unblemished by goals.  Paraguay had their opportunities but their finishing was abysmal.  During the break, Vicente del Bosque, would have done well to break out the DVD and show his troops some highlights of the German back line.  They seem to have forgotten the concept of defending, altogether.

As the old rhyme goes, second verse, same as the first.  When play resumed, Paraguay continued to hold the Spaniards at bay, with Torres struggling, Villa erratic and Ramos out of position.  At least la Furia were looking stronger at the back.  Perhaps del Bosque knows how to use a remote.

Ten minutes in El Gaffer made an interesting change.  The ineffective Torres (sorry kid) was replaced by Cesc Fabregas.  Villa switched to operate inside and the Arsenal man was stationed in front of him.

Just one minute later, the insanity returned, despite my misgivings, and at full bore.  First, Gerard Pique was caught redhanded, pulling on Oscar Cardozo’s arm, as though the pair were in a tug of war.  The card handed out was of the less severe shade, however.  Cardozo took his own penalty, blasting it towards the lower 90 on Casillas’ left.  The Spanish keeper was psychic on this chance and quickly there to absorb the shot.

Not so fast, amigos

At the other end, Villa raced through, seemingly clear but was tripped by Antonin Alcaraz.  Somehow, it was again deemed to be merely a yellow card.  For Spain, it was Xabi Alonso stepping in to handle the spot duty.  His shot made it hard and low into the low corner, sparking jubilation, but the momentary enthusiasm was abruptly curtailed by the official.  One of the Spaniards had encroached on the penalty area and Batres ordered a do-over, as we used to say in the school yard.

Alonso stepped in again and, operating on the theory that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, fired for the same target.  Justo Villar’s mindreading powers were suddenly equal to his opposite number’s and, amazingly, we were all still watching a scoreless tie.

The Spaniards, emboldened now,  began to pin back the ears of Justo Villar.  Iniesta attacked the box from the left and forced a point blank save from the Paraguayan keeper.  In the  sixty-seventh minute, the referee apparently decided penalties had become passe.  Fabregas was hauled down at the end line but play continued. Roque Santa Cruz came into the match for the impotent Valdez but Martino’s side needed help at the back before they could dream of moving the ball into Spain’s end of the pitch.

This 2nd verse not as good as the 1st

The Spanish onslaught strengthened.  Iniesta worked in from the left on a short corner and earned another.  The result of that was an eventual Alonso cannonade over the bar after some sustained pressure.Paraguay’s frustration became evident in their play.  Cardozo, desperate for the ball, leaned into Puyol from behind.  If it wasn’t before, the match was definitely getting chippy.

Pedro came on at this juncture, as del Bosque did not want to prolong this match into overtime, much less penalty kicks.  Spare us that, por favor. With the attack redoubled again, Joan Capdevilla overlapped and put a splendid cross into the box but Alcazar wass first to find it and headed the ball back, over the touchline.  With that, it was down to the final ten minutes of regular time.

Cesc's first serious playing time produces a less than clinical finish from the lucky and good Villa

Finally, in the dying moments, we found out why Spain is Spain.  Fabregas began an attack from the centre circle, his pass forward backheeled by Xavi Hernandez to Iniesta.  The little wizard would turn two defenders into stone with his enchanting weaves and dribble towards goal.  Entering the box, he slid it over to Pedro, who drove it off the post.  The rebound was gathered and settled by David Villa, who showed up Pedro by pinballing it off both uprights and into goal! One-nil Spain and Villa, finally  if barely, finds his range and at just the right time.  In Ellis Park, tonight, it was simple math.  Three posts equal one goal.

Desperate, the Paraguayans threw everyone forward.  Roque Santa Cruz, invisible since coming on, tried his first chance and proved no more useful than Valdez.  Jonathan Santana gifted Sergio Busquets an elbow in the face and sees yellow for his effort.  An enraged Spanish side attacked the other end in numbers.  A cross from the right is let through for Villa whose careful shot must evade a defender.  The pace sacrificed for accuracy allowed Villar to recover and save the cross grain shot.

Following that, Paraguay again raised the intensity of their guerilla tactics.  Sergio Ramos was forced to don a head wrap after being bloodied by the boot of Santana.  No punishment was forthcoming as Ramos was attempting a rather low header.  Despite two penalties and a handful of bookings, Referee Bastes can only be described as having been remarkably tolerant.  Four minutes of extra time expired with no further threat from Paraguay and Spain,ragged around the edges are through to the semis.

Paraguay were game but simply didn’t have the firepower up front to hang with the Spaniards.  It occurs to me that if you combined the attacking players of Argentina with the defensive corps and keeper of their continental cousins, such a team might go far.  As both South American teams found out today, you must have balance to succeed in the World Cup.

So, on Tuesday we will see the Dutch take on the Uruguayans, for the right to play for the World Cup on the Sunday following.  Without Luis Suarez to harry their flanks, Bert van Marwijk’s aging centre backs can focus more on the whereabouts of Diego Forlan.  Missing their 49 goal man, look for la Celeste to return to the condensed backline they featured against France, although the injury to captain Diego Lugano may prove critical.  They will hope to wear down the Dutch attack and perhaps strike through the set piece magic of Forlan.  Meanwhile, l’Oranje will keep milking the partnership of Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, as well as the latter’s own prodigious store of dead ball sorcery.

Wednesday, the other finalist will be determined in a dream confrontation between the calmly efficient young Germans and the fiery Spaniards.  As well as getting a chance to hoist the trophy, Miro Klose will be looking to leave behind Gerd Mueller and join Ronaldo I as the leading goal scorer in World Cup history.  David Villa, with 5 in this tournament will be looking to consolidate his claim for this tournament’s Golden Boot.

If you have any vacation days, it’s time to use them.  See you in mid-week.