´óÏó´«Ã½

Dont see anything but an easy spain win!!!

I think this might be the game where Spain open up and blast the opposition of the pitch!

You've got to love those Latin American bus drivers Paul, they don't care about the administrative side of border crossings for us 'gringos'. In a manner of speaking I am still in Guatemala and Brazil!

Back to the football, 3-0 win for Spain, Villa effectively securing the golden boot in this match.

Oh and Scouse_Torres, tell me, is Hodgson really the man to lead you forward or do you the other bloke back?

oops wrong blog

Spain will bottle it

Have spent most of the last year living in Asuncion so I have watched this Paraguayan team in person and on tv a number of times. I can tell you that this is a very solid team, who will defend stoutly, that even though their forwards haven't scored in this tournament they have good movement and quality and that Sunderland have themselves a wonderful player in Cristian Riveros.

That said they are about to play the best team in the world. What are their chances? Well certainly not favourites, but they beat both Brazil and Argentina in qualifying and possess the required quality in all areas of the park to produce a shock. Don't forsee a 3-0 unless the Spanish contrive more despicable play-acting to get Paulo Da Silva sent off. Who gets the first goal will be all important, should be Spain but if it is Paraguay, then Asuncion will erupt and Spain's history of choking may well be seen in full effect.

I've always loved Paraguay. I grew up watching rugby league and 4th division football. It was all about passion and pride in your community, about working hard and valuing both the skills and the power, recognising that more could be achieved through a disciplined and organised team that respected each contribution. Brazil and Argentina are inspiring in many ways but for a small town kid, Paraguay were always the real role model. A tiny population who had suffered so much in wars with the big two were now taking them on and winning at football.

So I went there. I experienced exactly that passion for the game that you described Paul. Did you go to Luque? It's like a tropical Castleford or Ipswich or Lens or Kaiserslautern. A small town, even by Paraguayan standards, who's sporting representatives punch way above their weight and give the town a national profile. It was incredible to see pavement edging in the whole town painted Belfast style... but in a positive celebration of blue and amber.

Funny thing is that ever since I've been following La Albirroja, I've never really come to terms with Roque as a Paraguayan international. He's a name, a star, a celebrity. He even has a Sportfreunde Stiller song dedicated to him. Can he fit into the collective way of being? I like him a lot but the evidence so far from this World Cup is that he's an individual and Paraguayans do best as a team.

Roque Santa-Cruz "...we have heard about people in Paraguay - they cannot even talk, they are all crying." Same in England mate!! :(

I would love it if Paraguay were to win and they are a very good TEAM but also need Spain to knock out Argentina or Germany if Holland don't do the business and think emotions would be too much for Roque's team by the sound of it..we need a European winner outside Europe for once.

I have to Say if Roque Santa Cruz is the forward, All i can expect is what i have seen from the other forwards playing in England. Drogba 1 goal, Torres no goals, Rooney no goals, Bent not at the world cup, Crouch no goals, heskey no goals, we have to go down to the 15th top scorer in the premier league, barring Tevez to find another player who has scored in the world cup. the top 15 goal scorers in the premier league have managed 4 goals between themselves. Brilliant advert for how great English football is. Villa on his own has managed that, which must put his worth around the 100 million mark.

While I believe everyone at this stage has a 'chance', I think they will be found wanting against a Spain side who, although not fully firing, have an immense pool of talent to call upon.. 2-0 Spain I reckon.

@ 1 and 2: that's exactly what Italy, brazil and Argentina fans thought...

spain play just like arsenal but win things with their better forwards. cant see paraguay getting anything but beat up.
p.s. say it ain't so- capello to stay?

Roque Santa Cruz? Is that the same Roque Santa Cruz who has only in one season in his career scored more than 20 goals and who has a career average of less than 15 goals in a 50 game season?

He's rubbish and Spain will spank Paraguay...well and truly.

After tonight that will be 2 of the South American teams gone.

Here's to Germany and Ghana making it a full compliment!

Nothing against South America you understand.....I just don't like teams being over-rated and journalists jumping on bandwagons to get nice soundbites.

15. At 5:38pm on 02 Jul 2010, Paul Fletcher wrote:
Hmmm, there is no question that Paraguay knocking out Spain would be a bigger shock than the Netherlands knocking out Brazil. But honestly, how many people expected the Brazilians to lose in Port Elizabeth?

Having said that, I now leave myself exposed to all the hindsight experts!

================================================================
Too many journalists like yourself have hugely over-rated Brazil in this tournament. Good at the back (except today) but average in midfield and prima donnaesque in attack. I predicted their demise.

Hindsight expert?????........I put a ton on Holland at 4 to 1!

Happy days!

Poor form Torres vs who? Santa Cruz?
How many times have we seen Torres pull a goal out of nowhere and win a game? He does it often, most notably in the Euro Final 2 years ago.
And does Santa Cruz do the same? Not that I have seen.
So give me a break, there is no comparison. Spain will play with ten men ( Torres as passenger) for 85 minutes and can still win it with one spark of genius.

Exactly the same nonsense people were saying about England thrashing Algeria, USA et al...

Still, it's good for us. Nobody bet on us beating Brazil or Argentina. There's no reason why we can't beat Spain. if we do, it'll be the greatest result ever for our side. If we don't, they've still done us proud.

Spanish fan here. Having read the article and posts I firstly want to congratulate Paraguay for the tournament. Then some considerations:

1) If Spain break the deadlock soon Paraguay might get a sack of goals.

2) Otherwise, we could see another Spain vs Switzerland match with Paraguay succeeding in parking the bus (i.e., late goal or penalties shoot out).

You all know 'football is football'. But the real question is, leaving aside the winning issue, which one of both styles of football you'd like to see from your team?

Uruguay has no moral right to be in the World Cup
Cheats!

Why are people so negative about Paraguay?

I´m an Australian who has lived in Paraguay for 5 years and followed Paraguay through the world cup qualifiers .. where we beat both Argentina AND Brazil ...

We were leading the qualifiers until the final rounds (we could have come 1st if we won our last game).

The Europeans who keep going on about how poor Paraguay are simply dont know anything about Paraguay. Its pure ignorance.

Paraguay have always been known in South America for their defence, and under Tata, their coach, they have discovered attack more as well.

For the last 5 years Paraguay has consistantly been the 3rd best team in South America after Brasil and Argentina, above Chile and Uruguay.

No one seems to actually know any of this when saying how poor or hopeless Py is.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ coverage of Paraguay has always been poor. When Paraguay has played there has been 90% focus on their opposition, Italy, Slovakia, New Zealand, and even on Japan after Japan lost.

Going into the final group game the ´óÏó´«Ã½ commentator was only talking about how Slovakia or New Zealand could top the group! Paraguay was winnig the group and only needed a draw to come first.

Paraguay are consistantly the 3rd best team in South America, their league is also the 3rd best, give them some respect and credit!

#21#
On what grounds you classify Uruguay as cheats?

I can't believe you talking about moral rights.
Suarez did what he had to do and so did the referee.

Shame Ghana didn't score, though.

Everything done and contemplated by the rules.

Stop talking typical british non-sense (doule standars?).

Sorry but I was embarrased yesterday by the ITV comentators.

Hope Paraguay send England's favourite foreign team home and someone teaches Capdevilla and Busquets a lesson. Uruguay vs Paraguay @ Soccer City......I believe!

Roque Santa Cruz and his team mates have done well in their long and arduous South American World Cup qualifying campaign. Unlike Argentina and Brazil, Paraguay has less luminaries in their line up. The media has not really highlighted the capacities and abilities of teams like Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile. Hope Paraguay does well in the QFs and bring joy to their fans. Best wishes.



Dr. Cajetan Coelho

Handling the ball and being punished for it is no worse than any other foul anywhere on the pitch. It's against the rules but the player knows he is going to get punished. If the referee doesn't spot it then it's a different kettle of fish.Red card and penalty awarded. In days gone by the handball was only punished by a penalty kick, no sending off, or even a booking. It was far more common back in the "old days". No sense comparing this to Henry who clearly cheated (because he wasn't punished and told the referee that he didn't handle it)

So much for an easy spain win! fools

i htink the europeans teams had a litle help from referees,i saw how they destroy the hopes n feelings from people from paraguay , i wish the mafia in soccer can use technology for all this matters that only benefit the countries wwith reps in fifa as argentine n ohers hope football can be the best sport n best examples for people who dont like or just starting to watch n love soccer thank you