From Italy's ashes raised Tata Martino's squad, a team that relies heavily in the physical strengths of their players but that have also shown the importance of a solid strategy. Lucas Barrios will be playing its seventh match with the Albirroja; In the first three ones he managed to score and give Paraguay the three points, but in the tree matches played on African ground luck has been rather adverse for Borussia Dortmund's top scorer. Japan has become a stronger team in the last years, still owners of an unchallenged speed and technique, but now closer to European football, with fierce midfielders and powerful wingers. CSKA Moscow's midfielder Keisuke Honda is the offensive lighthouse of the strongest Asian team in this World Cup, will he be able to break Paraguay's sturdy defense?
There's a first time for everything
Loftus Versfeld will host one of the toughest matches in this round, for these two teams have both similar characteristics, having both received a huge morale boost thanks to a solid qualification in their groups. Paraguay has never advanced further than the Round of 16 in a World Championship, but as Chile and Uruguay, this year everything seems to be working as it should for South American squads. Gerardo Martino has found in Enrique Vera the playmaker his team was lacking, and the offensive trident Barrios-Haedo-Santa Cruz pose a threat to whatever rival the Guaranies have to face.
Julio Cesar Caceres (one of the strongest midfielders in this competition) is perfectly aware of the test that's waiting ahead for he and his team mates. "We're happy we've got to this round, but our objective has not yet been reached and the clash against Japan is the only important thing now. Our team is ready to make a wonderful game" he said to the press. When asked about their next rival, Caceres declared "They're past, we should remained focused and keep notice of every minor detail".
Both teams have never faced each other in a World Championship. 11 years ago, when Paraguay was hosting the Copa America they played their only official match against each other, which ended with a loose 4-0 victory for the Albirroja. 4 matches for the Kirin Cup and one friendly match were the other five encounters between both teams, with three additional victories for Paraguay, one for Japan and one tied game.
Considering Victor Caceres will be unable to perform (having been cautioned two times in the first three games), the former Argentinean Nelson Ortigoza might be given an opportunity within the starting squad. Carlos Bonet's return to the fields will probably sideline Denis Caniza, while Jonathan Santana and Antolin Alcaraz are fully recovered from their injuries: It is unknown whether Santana will make it from the first minute on the fields after certain polemic declarations regarding his Argentinean roots, while Julio Caceres made an excellent work taking over Alcaraz's place last week.
Asian greed
Three weeks ago, Japan's coach Takeshi Okada declared he won't be happy if his team returns home without playing at least five games. His words are slowly becoming true, as the Japanese have made it over Denmark and Cameroon to the round of 16, having only lost points against Netherlands. Japan's versatile strategy, ready to attack and adopt a defensive formation only seconds later will have a tough time against Paraguay's highly tactical game.
Honda has been the offensive lighthouse of the Samurais, but the team has been lacking Yoshito Okubo's presence in the last meters. He might experience stage fright in South Africa, as he did with Mallorca back in 2006 and Wolfsburgo the last year. In 46 games he could only score five times, and maybe it'd be wise if Okada gave another partner to join Shinji Okazaki in the last meters. Aged 24, this young striker has scored 15 goals in only one year with Japan, a record in the Asiatic squad.
Japan's midfielder Yuki Abe declared Paraguay will be a tough rival "Their defense is completely organized. They've physical strength and an excellent level of football". Will Japan's millennial wisdom be enough to stand against the ferocity of the South Americans?
