Once again, we will witness the world’s best passing team try to break down stubborn opposition and it might take a while for Spain to achieve the breakthrough. After all, you can’t fault a Paraguay team that have only conceded one goal in the entire tournament, although their opposition has been questionable.

Slovakia, Italy, New Zealand and Japan have all shown themselves to be modest teams and Gerardo Martino’s team will have to play a blinder for 120 minutes to stop David Villa & Co from getting their noses in front. Naturally, there’s always the chance that they will score on the counter-attack or from a set piece but a failure to find the net in their last two matches suggests otherwise.

Therefore, it should be a victory for the Spanish who won’t stop working away until they are safely into the semi-finals against Germany or Argentina. It’s been an almighty adventure for La Furia Roja and one which is set to continue into the final week.

PREDICTION: SPAIN TO WIN 1-0 (6.0 with Ladbrokes) or 2-0 (6.0 with bet365)