MADRID—Portugal and Spain faced off in Capetown in one of the most highly anticipated round of 16 matches on Tuesday. Spain’s David Villa ultimately settled the contest with the only goal just past the hour mark in a 1–0 win for the defending Euro 2008 champion.
Although the two teams shared a 4–3–3 scheme, Portugal learned the lesson from Switzerland (who beat Spain in their first game 1–0) and would go out to the field with a defensive mentality.
Spain began the game very aggressively, and six minutes after the start, they had hit three shots on goal. Portugal waited behind the ball, very organized in defense, but could not counterattack, being cut again and again by the Spanish midfield.
Gradually, Portugal began threatening the goal of Iker Casillas with distant shots from Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiago that gave the Real Madrid goalkeeper some difficulty. This gave confidence to the Portuguese, who finished the first half counterattacking and creating some danger, while Spain had to lower the pace of its attack.
The second half started similarly to the first, with Spain attacking and Portugal very organized in defense. A few minutes after the restart came a shock to the Spanish fans from the boots of Hugo Almeida. After hitting a ball against Barcelona’s Carles Puyol, the shot went narrowly wide.
But in the 58th minute, came the change that would turn around the game. Vicente del Bosque, Spanish coach, brought on Fernando Llorente, from Athletic Bilbao, replacing the “El Niño” Fernando Torres, for his debut in a World Cup.
Llorente had an immediate impact just a minute later, when he connected with a long deep pass by Sergio Ramos from the right side to head into Portuguese goalkeeper Eduardo’s hands. Spain was getting stronger and began to be remembered as the European champions every Spaniard expected.
Andres Iniesta finally got the ball deep on the edge of the box, which he had failed to do in the first half. Xavi touched the ball with his heel back to Villa, and “el Guaje” hit it a left-footer against Eduardo, got the rebound and scored with his right foot. Three of the best European players displayed their magic, and Spain was Spain again.
From then until the end of the match, Xavi was lord and master of midfield, and Spain played their best World Cup minutes before the toughest opponent that it had faced so far in the tournament.
“After the goal, it has been the best Spain in the entire World Cup. Spain was better than Portugal,” said Xavi.
After completing the game, Spanish hero David Villa, stated, “We have left a very difficult opponent behind us. We never lost confidence.”
With four goals, “el Guaje” is among the World Cup top scorers, and only three goals away from becoming the top scorer in the history of the Spanish football.
Paraguay awaits Spain for its first World Cup quarterfinal while the Spanish team arrives with the objective of moving to the semifinals for the first time in their history.
Angel Maria Villar, president of the Spanish Football Federation stated regarding the alleged superiority of Spain in the quarterfinals, “Every game is different. Each team is here to do its best. If Paraguay is where it is, it’s because it deserves it.”
