Egypt's FEC, TRAIN partner to support food exporters    Spot Gold, futures slips on Thursday, July 17th    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt expresses condolences to Iraq over fire tragedy    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    At London 'Egypt Day', Finance Minister outlines pro-investment policies    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's FRA chief vows to reform business environment to boost investor confidence    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Sri Lanka's expat remittances up in June '25    EU–US trade talks enter 'decisive phase', German politician says    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Spain goes for historic win in WCup quarterfinals
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 07 - 2010

JOHANNESBURG: Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes his players are ready to make history: They can start by winning a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time.
Surprisingly, Spain has never advanced to a semifinal match at a World Cup in four opportunities between 1934 and 2002.
Standing in its way at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on Saturday is a resolute Paraguay team that is the most successful ever sent to a World Cup from the South American nation.
"We know we're in good shape," del Bosque said Thursday. "It's been more than 30 days together training as a team and I think these players want to make history."
Spain has once reached the last four at a World Cup, at the quirky 1950 tournament when just 13 teams showed up in Brazil and the four group winners advanced to a round-robin pool to decide the honors.
When the World Cup format has used a knockout bracket, Spain has always been stopped at the quarterfinals stage.
Spain lost to South Korea on penalties after a goalless draw in a 2002 matchup remembered for disputed referee calls, and Roberto Baggio lifted Italy to a 2-1 victory in 1994. In 1986, Belgium prevailed in a shootout after a 1-1 draw, and 1934 host Italy ousted the Spanish 1-0 in a replay.
Del Bosque would not be drawn to suggest the European champion has a golden chance to break the streak, and earn a final four tie against Argentina or Germany.
"If you had to choose one of the other seven who reached the quarterfinals, I don't know which one would be the easiest," he said.
"Paraguay, like all of the South American teams, show so much character, with players who exercise great pressure. They are players who know their trade, with the ball or without and they have a similar style to Chile, who we already know about."
Spain won that match 2-1 to top Group H despite losing its opener 1-0 against a Switzerland side that frustrated by defending in depth just like the Paraguayans shape to do Saturday.
"We'd all like to play nicely, scoring five goals a game and sometimes that happens," midfielder Andres Iniesta said. "There are good moments and difficult moments but what's important is that we're in the quarterfinals."
Paraguay arrives at this stage on the back of three straight shutouts by its defense, and a perfect five-for-five record in the penalty shootout against Japan when the teams' second-round game was goalless after extra time.
Goalkeeper Justo Villar expects more of the same "hard work and tactics" against Spain.
"It's going to be a good match where you will see two types of football," Villar said. "One side trying to attack skillfully while we try to stop them and then try to take advantage of our chances."
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino is still looking for a first goal from his forward line in South Africa.
However, two of Spain's squad know all about their opponent's attacking potential.
Forward Fernando Llorente and midfielder Javi Martinez were in an Athletic Bilbao team which lost 3-1 to the Paraguayans in a friendly match in March.
"It's a team to be wary of," Llorente said. "They gave us a good romping and the feeling I got was that this is a team with a coach who does his job well, with players of great ability who play in big teams in Europe."
Llorente impressed when he came off the bench minutes before David Villa scored the only goal — his fourth, to share the tournament lead — in Spain's second-round victory over Portugal on Tuesday.
However, Del Bosque is expected to keep the same starting lineup with Liverpool's Fernando Torres partnering new Barcelona signing Villa.


Clic here to read the story from its source.