Paraguay 0 Spain 1

Paraguay should have won this match. A perfectly legitimate goal was disallowed, then Cardozo managed to fail a penalty. Instead of being 2-0 ahead, Paraguay went into the last stages of the game on 0-0 and then the worst possible scenario happened.

Paraguay did not allow Spain to play for the first 45 minutes. Paraguay should have gone in for the interval one goal ahead, scored by Valdez on 41’, except yet again the FIFA referee, in his utter wisdom, decided to rule the player offside, when he was not.

58’ penalty to Uruguay. Cardozo’s shot was saved by Casillas. The following minute, penalty to Spain. Alcaraz pulled Villa down in the box. Xavi Alonso put the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed because Spanish players invaded the area. On the retake, Villar saved.

Spain did not manage to penetrate Paraguay’s excellent defensive system until 82’. David Villa, 1-0.

On another night the result would have been different.

Paraguay: Villar, Veron, Morel, Cardozo, Barreto (Vera), Santana, Da Silva, V. Cáceres (Lucas), Riveros, H. Valdez (Santa Cruz), Alcaraz

Spain: Casillas, Pique, Puyol (Marchena), A. Iniesta, David Villa, Xavi, Torres (Fabregas), Capdevila, Alonso (Pedro), Ramos, Sergio