Spain v Paraguay Betting Preview

Written by Tom Wakefield Wednesday, 30 June 2010 13:36

Betting Odds

In a tournament where South American teams have excelled, Paraguay take on pre tournament betting favourites Spain in a quarter final, but Paraguay will know that they will have to be at their very best to cause an upset at Ellis Park, because Spain finally look like the side everybody thought they were.

After their surprise defeat to Swtizerland in their opening game, the Spanish have bounced back in superb fashion, and their defeat of Portugal in the last 16, showed that it will take a real strong side to stop the Spanish reigning supreme in South Africa.


In David Villa Spain have the star of the World Cup so far. Despite been played out on the left, Villa has been in sensational form, scoring four times, including the winner against the Portuguese. If Paraguay are to make to the semi finals, they must stop Villa.


But it is not only Villa that is performing for Spain, after a slow start Xavi and Andres Iniesta are beginning to look like the dynamic midfield duo that guided Barcelona to the Champions League in 2009.


The two are given the freedom of the park with the more defensively minded Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets sitting deep in midfield. Alonso had a painkilling injection prior to the game against Portugal, but came through unscathed. But coach Vicente del Bosque could gamble and opt to save the Real Madrid man for the semi final, and bring in Cesc Fabregas.


Another change Del Bosque could make might see Liverpool striker Fernando Torres drop out in favour of Fernando Llorente who replaced him in the win over Portugal. Torres is yet to score so far at the World Cup, and if rumours are to be believed, Del Bosque is beginning to lose patience with Torres.

But whoever Del Bosque opts to pick, it won't be easy for Paraguay who will have Victor Caceres back in the squad after he missed the penalty shoot-out win over Japan through suspension. The midfielder might come back in to the side in favour of Carlos Bonet.


Elsewhere Roque Santa Cruz is under pressure for his place in the side from Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo and Nelson Valdez. Cardozo was the man who scorred the winning penalty and scored 38 clubs goals at club level last season.


Claudio Morel was deployed at right back for the game against Japan, however given that this is not is favoured position, and that he will be up against Villa, coach Gerardo Martino may opt to recall Deniz Canzia who was left out of the Japan game.


Elsewhere Sunderland bound Cristian Riveros and Enrique Vera will have to be at their best to combat the qualities of the Spanish midfield, we saw early on in the tournament that Spain don't look as composed when they are pressed, and this could be key to any chance of Paraguayan success.


Having said that though it is a huge ask for Paraguay to overcome the Spanish obstacle, and you do feel they will need a huge slice of luck to make it in to the last four. Spain have the most natural quality of any side that went to South Africa and with big players like Villa performing, you do feel they are well pressed to challenge for their first world title. So expect the Spanish to be the ones celebrating reaching the last four of the World Cup

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