Paraguay vs Japan. Today, Johannesburg, 4pm, Round of 16 (Match 55)
The penultimate match in the Round of 16 stage pits the surprise winners of Group F, Paraguay against a very impressive Japanese side.
Paraguay vs Japan. Today, Johannesburg, 4pm, Round of 16 (Match 55)
The penultimate match in the Round of 16 stage pits the surprise winners of Group F, Paraguay against a very impressive Japanese side.
With no clear favourite in the game, Paraguay will probably go into the match with a little more confidence the South Americans are yet to lose, and managed to top a group that Italy were the favourites to win.
Paraguay hasn’t exactly dazzled crowds at this year’s finals, however, winning only one game and scoring three goals against (barring Italy) relatively weak opposition.
Japan, on the other hand, has showed great promise in South Africa. After beating Cameroon in their opening game, they lost narrowly to the Netherlands, coming back to beat a fancied Denmark team in their final group match.
As always the Samurai Blue have been clinical, using their pace and movement off the ball to break down strong defences.
Their ability at set pieces, as Denmark learnt, is devastating, and Paraguay will do well to replicate the performance of the other South American teams in the Round of 16, by holding possession and move the ball up field with quick passes and a bit of flair.
Both teams have never made it beyond the last 16, so history will be made, regardless of which way it swings. Expect this to be a closely-fought encounter between the underdogs of the tournament.
Spain vs Portugal. Today, Cape Town, 8.30pm, Round of 16 (Match 56)
Before the tournament began, Spain was tipped as the hot favourites to win the World Cup. The European champions then stumbled in their opening game, losing to Switzerland in a match they should easily have won.
They’ve come back strongly since, beating Honduras and a stubborn Chilean team en route to topping
their group, with striker David Villa hitting top form on the way.
If they are to win the World Cup for the first time in their history, however, there will be no further margin for error. They face a gifted Portuguese side that are equally thirsty for success on this stage.
The Portugal team has never been in a better position to challenge for the title. They were placed fourth in the previous tournament and have since built a squad that combines the flair and speed of players like Christiano Ronaldo with the experience and steadiness of veterans like Deco and Simao.
Spain are still slight favourites on paper they boast a squad of highly-talented individuals who each have the potential to turn a game on its head.
The fact that a player like Cesc Fabregas finds it hard to make the starting line-up shows you the calibre and depth of the team.
All the Spanish players have enjoyed very successful careers, winning everything from league and continental titles at club level to the European Championship at a national level.
The only one missing is the World Cup, and if the players can use this lust for glory to inspire them tonight, Portugal will find it difficult to contain their neighbours.
Portugal, as they have shown in recent years, can never be counted out, and if they can get out of the starting blocks early, will make the match one of the games of the tournament.
