A goalless draw granted Paraguay the first position in the group stage. Italy is out as well as New Zealand, will the Guaranies stand against Japan in the next round?
There are only a few teams that have managed to end the first stage unbeaten. This match has not shown the best of the Albirroja, for Gerardo Martino tried to secure the first position rather than show once again his offensive prowess. New Zealand has not done enough to earn their place in the next stage, and thus a blue trip back to Oceania will be waiting ahead for the All Whites. Thanks to this result Paraguay will be able to avid Netherlands in the next round. Is Paraguay the heir to the throne?
Seven times has Paraguay taken part in a World Championship, but they have never obtained two victories in any of them. Only three times could Paraguay advance to the second round of the World Cup, but Mexico in 1986, France in 1998 and Germany in 2002 crushed Guarani's hopes of showing their worth within World's best eight teams.
But four years of dedication might have their fruit in African ground, as this seems to be the year for South Americans to write history. An average of fouls close to one every two minutes (19 free kicks were given to the Paraguayan squad and 13 for the Oceanic) is a clear example of the lack of creativity on both sides on a match that offered little excitement for the crowds. A match of inaccuracies and violence took place in Polokwane and granted Martino's squad a more than deserved place in the next round.
It was thought that some Paraguayan players will be given a chance to rest for this match, as certain key players as Vera, Caceres or Barrios have been experiencing a number of physical problems after last week's victory. But in the end Barrios was the only absent in the last match of the group stage. Without the former Argentinean striker, Paraguay's offensive was severely weakened, for Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo were unable to break Kiwi's compact defense. One would have thought New Zealand should have gone for an all offensive formation, as a victory over the Guaranies could have taken the Kiwis to the Knockouts, but not even Ryan Nelsen's attitude was enough to worry Justo Villar between the posts. Not a single time could the Oceanic squad break through Paraguay's sturdy defense, forcing their strikers to shot from mid distance, but their lack of efficiency could never menace the Paraguayan goalkeeper. No worries for the goalies
On the second half Martino realized some modifications were to take place, as a single lucky strike for the Oceanic could have completely change the course of the game. Lucas Barrios was called to join the offensive trident along with Edgar Benitez,offering a stronger aerial play to the Guaranies. Both players have their fair amount of chances in the 20 minutes they had on the field, but Mark Paston kept Kiwi's goal shut no matter the furious South American blows. Roque Santa Cruz wanted to score the winning goal and he had it in the last minute of the match, but once again New Zealand's denied the three points for the American squad.
Paraguay will have a relatively easy match waiting ahead against an Asiatic monster, will they be able to show their worth early next week?
