Paraguay 0-1 Spain: Daily Mirror match report

Spain keeper Iker Casillas paid tribute to Pepe Reina after his penalty heroics put the Euro 2008 champions into the World Cup semi finals for the first time.

The quarter final at Ellis Park was full of spot kick drama just like 24 hours earlier down the road at Soccer City when Ghana lost to Uruguay in a shoot-out after they missed a penalty in the final minute of extra time.

There was more drama in another Johannesburg thriller as Real Madrid keeper Casillas denied Parguay striker Oscar Cardozo - thanks to some advice from Liverpool's Spanish number one Reina.

Reina could not stop Cardozo from scoring two penalties for Benfica and knocking Liverpool out of the Europa League last season but told Casillas exactly where the Paraguay striker was going to put his 59h minute spot.

Casillas said: "Pepe Reina had told me Cardozo sent his penalty against him to the left and hard. His advice paid off."

Just over a minute later, Spain were awarded a penalty and ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was denied by Paraguay keeper Justo Villar after being ordered to retake his first successful spot kick because team mates encroached.

TV replays showed over and over that the same had happened to Paraguay striker Cardozo while, in the melee that followed Alonso's second kick, Cesc Fabregas was hauled down by Villar and should have had a penalty.

But all the high drama and bitter complaints were wiped away by David Villa's 83rd minute winner even though that nearly did not go in either as his shot hit both posts after Spain substitute Pedro also struck the woodwork.

It was hardly a convincing victory but Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque insists his team will only get better and improve.

Del Bosque said: "Casillas has been extraordinary and he made two magnificent stops. Villa is at the top of his form and was right there again - perhaps we could have scored earlier but Villa had the hunger.

"We didn't play well mainly because we didn't get enough of the ball. There were good things but we weren't as at ease in possession as in other games and it's important to be comfortable.

"It has been a very tough, very uncomfortable match but this is what we expected - they didn't let us play our game.

"In my time a Spanish side never felt so uncomfortable or passed the ball so inaccurately.

"But it's an absolutely marvelous moment for Spanish football and our game is at the very top.

"We didn't play a terribly good match today but we are happy and we know we have the necessary resources to face any rival including Germany.

"It's a great moment for Spanish football. We beat Germany in the final of the Euros but they are among the elite teams and I think that speaks volumes for European football."

Spain playmaker Andres Iniesta says they are confident of knocking out Germany but does not expect their victory over Joachim Loew's side in the Euro 2008 final to have any impact on Wednesday's semi final in Durban.

Iniesta added: "We'll be playing Germany again but I don't think what happened two years ago will have any bearing on the game.

"Germany have had a brilliant World Cup so far and regardless of their excellent results they're also playing very well. It must be a tremendous motivation for them but we too are at the top of our game.

"We're keen to progress further, it will be a match between two teams that like to keep ball and I think it will be a great match."