June 29, 2010 2:16 PM 
Paraguay holds its nerve
- Posted by Tim Vickery
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Those infernal kicks from 12 yards would define success or failure for a three-year Paraguayan project. Lose the shootout to Japan, and Paraguay would have blown its best-ever chance of finally getting through to the World Cup quarter-finals. Win the shootout and history is made.
The line can be very thin. Had Yuichi Komano's kick been a few centimetres lower -- had it gone in rather than hit the bar -- than Japan may well have gone on to win the shoot out. Their goalkeeper, Eiji Kawashima, is taller than Paraguay's Justo Villar and seemed to be getting nearer the spot kicks.
But the Paraguayans held their nerve and Komano's error proved decisive -- a horrible burden for one man to bear.
In this situation the beaten side can always look back and reflect that it might have done more to win the game in regulation time -- and that is certainly the case with Japan after this match.
But it would have applied to Paraguay, too, had they lost. Coach Gerardo Martino cut an increasingly agitated figure on the touchline as he grew frustrated with his team's lack of penetration.
In truth, anyone who expecting a classic from this match was looking in the wrong place. The stalemate was not hard to predict.
Japan was a tactically interesting side in this World Cup. Very few teams can operate without a conventional centre forward, but Japan managed it with some success.
They have always been a quick side, and they employed a formula that allowed them to use their speed, Keisuke Honda floating up front, leaving space into which Daisuke Matsui and Yoshito Okubu could dart from the flanks, or Makoto Hasebe could burst through from midfield.
Compact Japan
Camped in their own half, ready to pounce on their opponent's error, they were compact and very hard to break down. They conceded just two goals in the tournament -- a Holland long shot that swerved through the goalkeeper, and a rather tame penalty against Denmark.
Now out of the competition they must surely regret not pushing more men forward against the Paraguayans.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, meanwhile, has been fighting a long battle to try to get his players operating higher up the field. At times it can be an uphill struggle -- hence his frustration on the touchline.
The clearer chances, though, were created by his team, and his substitutions were made with the aim of taking the game to the Japanese.
To the extent that the penalty shootout is a question of luck, he deserved his side's good fortune. So did the goalkeeper and captain Justo Villar.
Third choice keeper in 2002, Villar's 2006 World Cup is not a happy memory. In the first few minutes of the opening game against England he conceded a goal when one of his own defenders headed the ball past him, and then suffered a serious injury when he raced out of his area to make a clearance.
The World Cup has proved third time lucky for him, and eighth time for Paraguay, who at last have achieved their objective of reaching the quarter-finals.
Can they go further? Saturday's game will be very different from the matchup with Japan. Whether it is Spain or Portugal who come through, either one will feel comfortable to take the initiative in the game.
Paraguay will be able to resort to the traditional posture of deep defence -- and they will hope for another excellent performance from Paulo Da Silva in the middle of the back four.
It will be up to Martino to ensure they stay positive, that their thoughts are not solely restricted to hanging on. After going the full 120 minutes against Japan, they may well tire towards the end of their quarter-final.
Their best chance is a puncher's chance -- striker Lucas Barrios is due a goal, and Cristian Riveros always looks dangerous when he breaks into the penalty box from midfield. The odds are surely against further Paraguayan progress. If they are going to spring a surprise they must surely mix in some boldness with their traditional resilience.
The line can be very thin. Had Yuichi Komano's kick been a few centimetres lower -- had it gone in rather than hit the bar -- than Japan may well have gone on to win the shoot out. Their goalkeeper, Eiji Kawashima, is taller than Paraguay's Justo Villar and seemed to be getting nearer the spot kicks.
But the Paraguayans held their nerve and Komano's error proved decisive -- a horrible burden for one man to bear.
In this situation the beaten side can always look back and reflect that it might have done more to win the game in regulation time -- and that is certainly the case with Japan after this match.
But it would have applied to Paraguay, too, had they lost. Coach Gerardo Martino cut an increasingly agitated figure on the touchline as he grew frustrated with his team's lack of penetration.
In truth, anyone who expecting a classic from this match was looking in the wrong place. The stalemate was not hard to predict.
Japan was a tactically interesting side in this World Cup. Very few teams can operate without a conventional centre forward, but Japan managed it with some success.
They have always been a quick side, and they employed a formula that allowed them to use their speed, Keisuke Honda floating up front, leaving space into which Daisuke Matsui and Yoshito Okubu could dart from the flanks, or Makoto Hasebe could burst through from midfield.
Compact Japan
Camped in their own half, ready to pounce on their opponent's error, they were compact and very hard to break down. They conceded just two goals in the tournament -- a Holland long shot that swerved through the goalkeeper, and a rather tame penalty against Denmark.
Now out of the competition they must surely regret not pushing more men forward against the Paraguayans.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino, meanwhile, has been fighting a long battle to try to get his players operating higher up the field. At times it can be an uphill struggle -- hence his frustration on the touchline.
The clearer chances, though, were created by his team, and his substitutions were made with the aim of taking the game to the Japanese.
To the extent that the penalty shootout is a question of luck, he deserved his side's good fortune. So did the goalkeeper and captain Justo Villar.
Third choice keeper in 2002, Villar's 2006 World Cup is not a happy memory. In the first few minutes of the opening game against England he conceded a goal when one of his own defenders headed the ball past him, and then suffered a serious injury when he raced out of his area to make a clearance.
The World Cup has proved third time lucky for him, and eighth time for Paraguay, who at last have achieved their objective of reaching the quarter-finals.
Can they go further? Saturday's game will be very different from the matchup with Japan. Whether it is Spain or Portugal who come through, either one will feel comfortable to take the initiative in the game.
Paraguay will be able to resort to the traditional posture of deep defence -- and they will hope for another excellent performance from Paulo Da Silva in the middle of the back four.
It will be up to Martino to ensure they stay positive, that their thoughts are not solely restricted to hanging on. After going the full 120 minutes against Japan, they may well tire towards the end of their quarter-final.
Their best chance is a puncher's chance -- striker Lucas Barrios is due a goal, and Cristian Riveros always looks dangerous when he breaks into the penalty box from midfield. The odds are surely against further Paraguayan progress. If they are going to spring a surprise they must surely mix in some boldness with their traditional resilience.
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Date Match Time Sun. July 11 Netherlands vs Spain 12:30 ET 
About the Author
Tim Vickery
The son of a reasonably skilled amateur soccer player, Tim Vickery inherited the enthusiasm but none of the talent - and soon came to the conclusion that his best position was on the sidelines writing about the game. Tim did not make it out of his native England until the age of 23, but has since made up for lost time. He has been based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for over 15 years, and writes and broadcasts about South American soccer for, among others, the BBC, World Soccer magazine, and SI.com.
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