'Paraguay will close down Spain'

CENTURION, South Africa (AP):

Goalkeeper Justo Villar says his Paraguay line-up has a game plan to stop European champions Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals: "Don't give them any space."

Villar, who turned 33 yesterday, plays for Valladolid in the Spanish league, so he has a good idea of what to expect in the quarter-final at Ellis Park on Saturday.

"It's going to be a good match where you will see two types of football," Villar said. "One side trying to attack skilfully while we try to stop them and then try to take advantage of our chances."

Paraguay have relied on their disciplined defence to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the country's history. They only allowed one goal in the group stage, from a 1-1 draw with 2006 champions Italy, and beat Japan in the second round in a penalty shoot-out after both teams had failed to score after extra time.

"Our football has always been about a lot of hard work and tactics," Villar said after the team practised yesterday.

Top forward

In qualifying for the World Cup, Paraguay finished third in South America behind Brazil and Chile, and ahead of Argentina and Uruguay.

But in South Africa, the team is missing its top forward, Salvador Cabanas, who was the victim of a shooting in January in a Mexico City bar. Cabanas survived, but still has a bullet lodged in his head.

"We spoke to him last night and he was happy to hear from us," striker Nelson Valdez said. "We keep in touch. It's always a great joy to hear him speak."

Paraguay's players have dedicated their success at the tournament to Cabanas.