World Cup: Paraguay vs Spain 0-1, Casillas and Villar both saved a penalty!

Did anyone expect so even game? I though that Paraguay won't be an easy opponent, but I didn't suspect that Spain is going to have so much problems with attempts to shot on the goal.

The first half ended with a goalless draw, although Paraguay's goal was wrongly disallowed. It was not an offside. Another referee's mistake...

And the second... When it come to those situations with penalties. It was amazing! I was sure Casillas is going to save it. He saved penalties before, both in game and in penalty shootout. Didn't expect, however, that Villar will save a penalty too.





Both goalkeepers were lucky. Villar saved the re-take of a penalty, but it was almost scored, as he let the ball out of his hand. He clipped Fabregas who was first to reach the loose ball. Could be booked for that but refeere either haven't seen this or choose to not see it. Then Casillas in the last minutes of the match. He made a good save but bounced the ball straight on Paraguayan players foot. Amazingly he managed to save also the second shot.

This one time the stats didn't really show the effort of goalkeepers. 2 saves of Villar and 3 of Casillas but all of them were very good.

It was also interesting to see that both goalkeepers were the captains.

At ESPN page the both were named men of the match. Quote:

Men of the Match: Iker Casillas and Justo Villar - In a game devoid of much quality, both goalkeepers get an honourable mention. They both saved penalties to keep their respective teams in the match and the last time that happened was back in 1930 in a match between Argentina and Mexico.

Parguay did well on the World Cup. They showed more than Brazil and Argentina in their quarterfinals. The match with Japan might be boring, but the penalty shootout made up it. Now the thrilling second half in the quarterfinal. More matches like this!

Now Spain is going to face Germany in the semi-final. It won't be easy. It won't be easy at all.

Quotes about Eduardo's performance

The press and the fans are far from being flattering towards the performance of Portuguese team and players. However, there is one person whose efforts had been valued.

It's Eduardo.


PortuGoal named Eduardo a man of the match.

"There can be no doubts as to the PortuGOAL man of the match – Eduardo – who kept the Spaniards at bay for over an hour with a series of breathtaking saves."

Eduardo: 9.5/10 PortuGOAL man of the match
"A cat-like leap to turn a Fernando Torres shot round the post in the first minute set the tone as Eduardo proved an almost impregnable shield against the incessant Spanish attack. Further superb saves in the 3rd, 6th, 60th, 69th, and 76th minutes kept Portugal in the game, and as a disconsolate Eduardo left the pitch bathed in tears one could not help feeling the Braga man deserved a better supporting cast."


More quotes:

"I think Eduardo was the man of the match. He was very good. He provide the team with a feeling of security and gave them hope. He made a great show, but everyone played well."

- Ricardo, the former goalkeeper of Selecção, a commentator at Maisfutebol


"Eduardo kept the team in the fight for most of the time; he was just unfortunately that the rebound from him fell to a Spanish player"

Eduardo gave us a brilliant performance

– Carlos Queiroz, the coach


Eduardo, was very assured, and did not deserve this defeat.

- News24