World Cup Photos: Paraguay 0-1 Spain – David Villa Is The Difference

Ollie Irish

6th, July 2010

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By Ollie Irish

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Paraguay's Nelson Haedo Valdez (centre left) and Justo Villar (centre right) appear dejected after the final whistle.

Without the electric David Villa, Spain would almost certainly not have reached the last four. Okay, a moot point, but one worth making as most of Villa’s big-name team-mates appear to be struggling: Fernando Torres has been awful, almost as bad as Wayne Rooney, and whilst Xavi and Andres Iniesta have been pretty good intermittently, neither has matched his imperious club form so far in South Africa.

Paraguay gave the Spanish a hell of a scare, and but for a Oscar Cardozo’s saved penalty, might now be preparing to lose to Germany in the semis. As it is, I think Spain could be just the team to unlock the Germans, and so I’m tipping a Netherlands v Spain final; bet all your money on Uruguay v Germany, then.

As a consequence of Paraguay’s plucky defeat, local heroine Larissa Riquelme will be taking off her clothes after all. So it’s not all bad news for the South Americans.