Everyone – probably even the Paraguay manager, Gerardo Martino - expected Spain to go through. Nobody, however, could have foreseen that the pre-tournament favourites would have put up such a fight. Oscar Cardozo’s breakdown at the end confirmed what everybody at Ellis Park knew. Had the Benfica striker scored from his penalty, Spain might have cracked. In the end, they had one of their own from Xabi Alonso saved but came though at the death when a superb switched pass from Andres Iniesta found Xavi Hernandez whose shot cannoned off the post. David Villa, who with Miroslav Klose will contest the Golden Boot of this World Cup was on hand to strike the fatal blow. Spain were through but much less impressively than might have been imagined.