Paraguay out to stifle Spain

South Americans ready for quarter-final clash

By Razwan Mirza   Last updated: 30th June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Paraguay out to stifle Spain

Villar: Ready for Spain

We can't give them space, they are a team who have a very good touch and who move the ball very quickly - if we give them just a little bit of space they will slap us in the face.

Justo Villar.
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Captain Justo Villar insists Paraguay will go all out to stop Spain imposing their stylish game on the South Americans in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

Paraguay defeated Japan on penalties in the last 16 after the game had ended goalless and goalkeeper Villar believes coach Gerardo Martino's organisational skills will prove to be a major obstacle for the European champions in Johannesburg.

Paraguay, who finished third in South American qualifying, have conceded just one goal in four games at the tournament in South Africa, helped by a well drilled defensive unit.

"We can't give them space, they are a team who have a very good touch and who move the ball very quickly - if we give them just a little bit of space they will slap us in the face," said the Real Valladolid stopper.

"Our football has always been about effort and our tactical set-up, that is what our game is based up on. So, you are going to have a clash of two different kind of football. Their way is about creating and ours is more about stopping them and then taking our chances," he added.

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Borussia Dortmund striker Nelson Haedo Valdez agreed with Villar that stopping Spain's attacking style was essential.

"We haven't to let them play. They are a team full of good individuals who can make the difference, in the middle of the field you can't allow them to move, we are talking about one of the favourites to win the Cup," he said.

Paraguay's strikers have yet to come good in the tournament with Roque Santa Cruz, Edgar Benitez and Lucas Barrios all failing to hit the target for La Albirroja but Valdez insists he is not concerned.

"Without the goals from strikers we are still doing well, the important thing for us is that we have only conceded one goal. Whoever scores the goals for us, it really doesn't matter," he said.