Day 21 World Cup Action Round-up – Germany steamroll into the Semi-finals, Spain edge out Paraguay
Day 21 of the tournament saw Europe conquer South America in the two remaining quarter-finals, one side perhaps more comfortable then the other. Germany couldn’t have been more impressive, following up a 4-1 victory over England with a rampant display to send Argentina crashing out after an embarrassing 4-0 defeat. Spain were made to sweat a bit longer, eventually finding a winning goal with eight minutes to spare to edge out Paraguay in a well contested quarter-final encounter.
 GERMANY 4
Mueller, 3, Klose 67, 89, Friedrich 74
 ARGENTINA 0
Germany produced an equally clinical display to the one that saw off England to dump Argentina out of the tournament with an emphatic 4-0 defeat. They opened the scoring just three minutes in, Thomas Mueller getting on the end of a free-kick from Bastian Schweinsteiger to glance home past Sergio Romero. Germany should have doubled their advantage on 24 minutes, Mueller bursting through the Argentine defence before squaring it to Miroslav Klose who blazed over from close range. Argentina began to dominate proceedings just before the break but failed to force German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a worthwhile save and Germany went in at half time with their lead still intact.
The second half saw Argentina begin to push players into more advanced positions as they pursued an equaliser. Like England, however, they would pay the price - a poorly timed lunge from Otamendi allowing Lukas Podolski to break behind the defence and coolly steer it between Nicolas Burdisso and goalkeeper Romero to present Klose with the simplest of tap-ins to extend their lead. Argentina saw their hopes of a comeback all but vanish on 74 minutes, Schweinsteiger again influential, skipping past two Argentine defenders before pulling it back for defender Arne Friedrich to slide home and put the game beyond Diego Maradona’s side. They capped a rampant display with a fourth late on, Mesut Ozil standing a cross up for Klose at the back post who side footed past Romero as they sailed through to the semi-finals in some style.
 PARAGUAY 0
 SPAIN 1
Villa, 82
Spain scraped through a tight quarter-final encounter with Paraguay thanks to a late winner from tournament top scorer David Villa. The first half saw little in the way of goal scoring chances, Paraguay seemingly content to contain their talented opponents. Xavi went closest to an opening goal for Spain, his looping volley dropping over the cross bar by the narrowest of margins. Paraguay arguably looked the more threatening, Nelson Valdez wasting their best chance, shooting wide having linked up well with Oscar Cardozo.
The game suddenly sprung to life on 57 minutes, referee Carlos Batres awarding a penalty to Paraguay after Spanish defender Gerard Pique had visibly pulled back Cardozo after getting the wrong side of the Paraguayan striker. Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas would come to Spain’s rescue, diving low to his left hand side to deny Cardozo from the penalty spot. Almost immediately after, Spain were awarded a penalty of their own when Antolin Alcaraz sent David Villa tumbling to the ground as he bore down on the Paraguay goal. Xabi Alonso converted from the penalty spot before the referee ordered for it to be retaken after Spanish players had encroached into the penalty area. Remarkably, Alonso’s second attempt was saved by goalkeeper Justo Villar who appeared to bring down Cesc Fabregas in the aftermath but referee Bastres was unsighted and Paraguay scrambled the ball to safety.
Spain did eventually break Paraguayan hearts though, David Villa finding the back of the net after his strike from eight yards had hit both posts before crossing the goal line with just eight minutes remaining. Casillas was forced into a smart double save late on from substitutes Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz as Spain held on to secure a place in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in the nation’s history.
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