The Paraguay-Japan game witnessed the first ever penalty shootout of this year's tournament. I had almost forgotten how nervous I get when watching them no matter who's playing. That could be to do with the fact that England didn't even reach the penalty shootout stage of the game this time around...! But anyway it's a cruel way to go out and this time was no exception.
The game itself was probably one of the poorest we have seen so far. No goals, no ambition, no courage. For both teams a spot in the quarters was going to be a first. Neither Paraguay nor Japan have ever made it out of the second round, so the prospect of each side making national history was clear for all to see. It's a shame then that both sides were so fearful and played so cautiously and tentatively, so that what we got was reminiscent of the opening games of the tournament - a tight, edgy and cagey encounter with few chances from either side and no real prospect of any goals being scored.
In fact, the longer the game wore on, it became inevitable that we would be heading to penalties. Neither side wanted to commit players forward for fear of being undone at the back and therefore either took chances from range, or didn't take none at all. Both sides were trying to play counter-attacking football and this is where they cancelled each other out. We have seen in previous games that the Japanese have been extremely organised and rigid at the back, always playing in straight lines and not really conceding too much. We saw a different Japanese side against the Danes - there they were playing with more fervour and enthusiasm and giving us a really good game. They were fresh, full of energy and adventurous in going forward. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about their style of play in yesterday's game.
As for Paraguay, well they were a bit better at breaking on the counter, but were just too slow at making anything happen. As soon as they got the ball, the pace slowed down completely allowing the Japanese defenders and the goalkeeper, Kawashima to make those vital blocks. Lucas Barrios went closest for the South Americans in the first half, getting in between two Japanese defenders only to see his effort on goal saved. His chance, finally breathed some life into the game 20 minutes in, as at the other end Matsui lashed a ball from distance only to see it whack the crossbar. That all came in the same minute and was about all the excitement we had in a pretty much unmemorable opening half.
It was pretty much the same story in the second half. Paraguay probably came closest to scoring out of the two sides after Riveros' header went wide. The game pretty much just floated from one team to the other without any real pressure or anything exciting happening. The introduction of substitute Nelson Valdez livened things up though. It was clear to see how much he wanted to win the game and get it over and done with, and indeed he came so close to scoring but Kawashima did well to smother.
Neither keeper made a save in the subsequent shootout, but as is so often the case one man's pain was another man's joy as Japan's third penalty taker Komano whacked his penalty onto the crossbar. The advantage was with Paraguay who put away all 5 spotkicks, with Benfica's Oscar Cardozo sealing the win. All the spotkicks, save Komano's obviously, were really well taken and it's always sad to see a side go out on penalties (unless you're on the winning team of course!). Cardozo's coolly taken kick sparked scenes of mass jubilation and tears of joy from the Paraguayan coach, as well as tears of despair from the Japanese.
The win for Paraguay means that now all 4 quarterfinals have 1 South American team present in what is looking a great year for that continent. There are also 3 European teams and 1 African. If Japan had made it through then we would have seen a representative from the Asian continent but ultimately a lack of ambition and an unwillingness to take risks cost them what would have been their first ever place at a quarterfinals. Although they did well, particularly against Denmark, they will no doubt rue the missed opportunity against Paraguay and their failure to take the game to the South Americans instead of sitting back, and hoping for something to come their way.
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