David Villa Shut Paraguay's Dream

Images by El Universo

Spain qualified Saturday to the semifinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg thanks to a miraculous goal from F.C. Barcelona's new striker David Villa just seven minutes before the match ended. Throughout the whole match, Andres Iniesta armed an offensive attack, passed to teammate Pedro, who came fro the right hand side of the field, the ball went on to Villa, who shot with much effectiveness to the net that gave the victory over Paraguay in the 83 minute. With this result, The European champion Spain advances to the semifinals, for the first time since 1950. David Villa has surely become the savior for the Spaniards, which gave them victories over Honduras and Chile, winning in the round of 16 against Portugal and now winning over Paraguay which made a historical pass to the semifinals. Villa now has 5 goals and is competing with other strikers like Miroslav Klose and Wesley Sneijder.

Spain will now face the all powerful Germany in the semifinals, an attractive match that has a history of both, such as the European Championship final in Austria/Switzerland 2008 where Fernando Torres scored the only goal that gave the Spaniards victory and the title as European Champions. Paraguay should have scored in both occassions, but an annulled goal from Nelson Haedo Valdez and a missed penalty shot from Oscar Cardozo could have Paraguay in the best four. Spain could have scored more goals, but David Villa's goal seemed enough after a saved penalty shot executed from Xabi Alonso, but Paraguay's Justo Villar saved the team from a suffered defeat. Paraguay controlled most of the first half, by having four players in the midfield trying to create many opportunities for the strikers to score and to take the advantage to counterattack and surprise the rival. The Spaniards seemed impossible to stop the solid defensive barrier leaded by Paraguay's Paulo Da Silva, but in the second half, Paraguay's effort payed really hard after holding on through the match came the goal that left the team out of the tournament.

With this result, Paraguay leaves the tournament with their heads held up high for having a magnificent participation in this 2010 FIFA World Cup and will expect more in 2014 in Brazil. While the Spaniards, this leaves the European champions with much to dream of and a place to be in the final in Johannesburg.