Late David Villa Goal Puts Spain Into World Cup Semifinals

Paraguay nearly drew even in the 89th minute, withe Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz testing Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas only to see the Spanish captain come-up with two answers to keep Spain ahead, 1-0.

Lucas Barrios was given a shot from the right of the penalty box at 16 yards out, his right-footed attempt fired directly at Casillas. Casillas left the rebound in front of goal, eight yards out, allowing Roque Santa Cruz to run-on for a shot. Casillas was able to close-down the space for Santa Cruz, saving the striker’s attempt for an equalizer.

One minute after Óscar Cardozo missed a penalty kick that would have given Paraguay the lead, Xabi Alonso beat Justo Villar to apparently put Spain in the lead.

Then, the kick was disallowed.

Vincente del Bosque has made his first change, against bringing Fernando Torres off early in the second half, bringing on midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the match’s 57th minute.

Torres gave another sub-standard performance in his return from knee surgery. Fabregas’s insertion will put David Villa bad in a striker’s role, moving in from the left wing.

Paraguay has used pressure high in midfield to disrupt Spain’s ability to get into attack, forcing Spain into a number of first half turnovers, keeping La Furia Roja from putting a shot on goal during a scoreless first half in Johannesburg.

Paraguay has the half’s only shot, a Jonathan Santana roller from 20 yards out that was easily saved by Iker Casillas. The Parguayans also have the half’s only goal, a Nelson Valdez tally that never was, the play having been whistled offside before the crowd’s gasps.

Paraguay and Spain are scoreless through 23 minutes in Johannesburg thanks in large part to Gerardo Martino making sure Xavi Hernández does not have an easy time on the ball.

Martino’s six lineup changes have been deployed in a 4-4-2 with a flat midfield and Jonathan Santana partnering Oscar Cardozo at forward. It’s a straight-forward, almost vanilla formation, but the tactics, specifically how they’re treating Spain’s playmaker, has cause Spain to stall out to start the match.

Some would say Vincente del Bosque has confidence in his approach, while others would say he’s being stubborn. Both groups would exhibit little surprise in the Spain coach’s starting eleven, which includes Fernando Torres and the two deep-sitting midfielders he’s used all tournament.

Spain Starting XI

G - Iker Casillas

LB - Joan Capdevilla

LCB - Gerard Piqué

RCB - Carles Puyol

RB - Sergio Ramos

DM - Sergio Busquets

M - Xabi Alonso

M - Xavi Hernández

RAM - Andrés Iniesta

LF - David Villa

F - Fernando Torres

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino has made a number of changes for today’s quarterfinal against Spain, making six changes to the lineup started against Japan in the Round of 16.

Dario Varón will start for Carlos Bonet at right back, the position expected to be opposite Spain’s most dangerous player, David Villa.

Spain, Going Forward: Del Bosque has moved David Villa out to the left, switching his formation from using two forwards (with Villa supporting Fernando Torres) to a lone striker and a winger. Villa has no meaningful defensive responsibilities so it can still be though of as a 4-4-2, if an asymmetrical one.

The change gives Spain a new option. Whereas before they were heavily dependent on what they were able to build through Xavi Hernández and (when healthy) Andrés Iniesta, now the Spanish can play the ball out left and let Villa try to win an individual battle against the opposing team’s right back. Should he prove himself able to do so, that forces the opposition to provide help, which could open the midfield for Hernández.