FIFA WORLD CUP 2010: Day 19 (29 June 2010)

Second Round:

PARAGUAY 0 - JAPAN 0

(Paraguay won 5-3 on penalties)

Honestly, both teams had surpassed expectations by making it this far. However there had to be one winner in a match that looked like 0-0 from the outset. Both teams defended stoutly and lacked lethal finishing. If only Matsui's strike had curved under the bar... Paraguay were perfect in the penalty shoot-out while Japan rued Komano's miss. While there are still hopes for an all-South American semi-finals, I do not see Paraguay getting past Spain in the quarter finals. Rating: 2/5

SPAIN 1 - PORTUGAL 0

El Classico! In the clash of the Iberian heavyweights, it was Spain that prevailed over Portugal. The match could have gone either way, with Portugal getting better chances in the first half, but it was Spain's dominance in the second half that counted. Goalie Eduardo kept the score respectable with a string of great saves, before David Villa's (who else?) decisive coup de grace. Cristiano Ronaldo was anonymous (other than the spitting incident) and that summed up Portugal's poor evening. Rating: 4/5