Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
Favourites Spain now face a quarter-final with Paraguay in the World Cup after their 1-0 win over Portugal in the last 16.
A game that was eagerly anticipated turned out to be not so easy on the eye as Portgual set themselves up to defend in numbers and hope they could rely on something special from Cristiano Ronaldo, or a quick breakaway. Neither appeared.
Spain pressed in the opening 45 minutes, with Fernando Torres having a shot inside the opening 60 seconds. That was to be his main contribution. Torres is out of sorts after injury. His form, or lack of it, is Spain’s main concern. After that bright opening, Spain probed with interest, without creating too much and Portugal soaked it up. Ronaldo even had one shot that left keeper Iker Casillas needing to produce an awkward palm away/punch.
The Spanish dispensed with Torres on 58 minutes and introduced the more robust Fernando Llorente, of Athletic Bilbao. He nearly scored straight away with his header from Sergio Ramos cross. The goal came shortly afterwards with Spain’s trademark neat passing, Andres Iniesta and Xavi were both involved. David Villa’s first shot from the left side of the area was well blocked by Portugal’s Eduardo, but Villa (pictured) has sharp enough reactions to allow him to finish at the second attempt. With Llorente providing a muscular outlet, Spain were the better side.
Portugal eventually emerged from their defensive mindset with some late substitutions. Late on, the Portugese defender Ricardo Costa was sent off for an apparent elbow on Joan Capdevila. Guess what…the TV replays proved inconclusive.
So here’s the last eight:
Uruguay v Ghana
Holland v Brazil
Argentina v Germany
Paraguay v Spain
Now, a break from football. The Sportnewsbase.com team are checking in with our psychotherapists.