<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">(<strong>Results:</strong> Paraguay 0(5)-0(3) Japan, Spain 1-0 Portugal)</span></p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000"> </span></em></strong> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000">Team of the day – Spain: </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000"> </span></em></strong>Pre-tournament favourites finally look to have found rhythm. They put on their best display so far against a stubborn Portuguese defence which had conceded just once in last 12 games. Spain dominated the game from the start to the end. The enjoyed a lion’s share of the possession & looked incisive while going forward. Villa & Torres linked up well with the midfield, Iniesta was at his sublime best. Ramos kept Ronaldo in check for 90 minutes. Casillas & Capdevilla still look shaky & that can be a potential cause of worry. Otherwise Spain are in ominous form.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px;text-align: left"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-spain-portugal/image/9257276?term=spain+portugal" target="_blank"><img src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9257276/football-spain-portugal/football-spain-portugal.jpg?size=380&imageId=9257276" border="0" alt="June 29, 2010 - South Africa - Football - Spain v Portugal FIFA World Cup Second Round - South Africa 2010 - Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - 29/6/10..Spain team group." width="380" height="268" /></a><em> European Champions have finally hit form </em></p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000">Goal of the Day:</span></em></strong> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>David Villa (Spain):</strong> Obvious isn’t it? There was just one goal to boast about on day-19. He started on the left side, out of position. But that never deters Villa. He was a constant menace to the Portuguese defence & never shrank back from taking a long ranger when he didn’t find space. The goal was a tad lucky, his first shot was saved by Eduardo but the rebound fell kindly to him. A grateful Villa didn’t make a mistake.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/football-spain-portugal/image/9257281?term=spain+portugal" target="_blank"><img src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9257281/football-spain-portugal/football-spain-portugal.jpg?size=380&imageId=9257281" border="0" alt="June 29, 2010 - South Africa - Football - Spain v Portugal FIFA World Cup Second Round - South Africa 2010 - Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - 29/6/10..David Villa (C) scores Spain's first goal." width="380" height="211" /></a><em> The best striker in the world? </em></p> <span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>P</em></strong></span><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>layer of the day:</em></strong></span> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Eduardo</strong>: The Braga ‘keeper was a big reason why the modest club finished 2nd, ahead of Porto in Portuguese League. His form had made Portugal one of the best defensive teams in last few months. Last night he was the difference between Spain & a hammering. He was unfortunate for Villa’s goal.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/spain-portugal/image/9256933?term=Eduardo" target="_blank"><img src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9256933/spain-portugal/spain-portugal.jpg?size=380&imageId=9256933" border="0" alt="June 29, 2010 - Cape Town, South Africa - epa02230073 Portugal's goalkeeper Eduardo gestures during the FIFA World Cup 2010 Round of 16 match between Spain and Portugal at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, 29 June 2010. Spain won 1-0." width="380" height="236" /></a><em> Sad exit for a top performer</em> </p> <strong><span style="color: #ff0000"><em>Damp Squib of the Day:</em></span></strong> <p style="text-align: justify">The 90 minutes of <strong>Japan – Paraguay</strong> was a sad, drab affair. None of the teams showed intent or ability to score a goal. Forget scoring goals, they didn’t even look like stringing a decent move. No Asian team has ever beaten a South American team. Japan didn’t show any signs of changing the trend. Round of 16 games in this world cup has been brilliant. This was a standout exception.</p> <strong><em> </em></strong> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000">Celebrity look-alike of the day:</span></em></strong> <p style="text-align: justify">Remember the old Godzilla films? Each film would have a scientist who worked with the military to stop the rampaging monster. Meet Japan coach <strong>Takeshi Okada</strong>, who can walk into any Godzilla film set to portray that role.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/south-africa-tshwane-2010/image/9255424?term=takeshi+okada" target="_blank"><img src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9255424/south-africa-tshwane-2010/south-africa-tshwane-2010.jpg?size=380&imageId=9255424" border="0" alt="TSHWANE, June 29, 2010 Japan's coach Takeshi Okada reacts during the 2010 World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Paraguay at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane, South Africa, on June 29, 2010. Japan lost 3-5 in a penalty shootout." width="380" height="491" /></a></p> <p style="padding-left: 210px"><em>Quick, Godzilla is escaping !</em></p> <span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>Bruce-Lee moment of the day:</em></strong></span> <p style="text-align: justify">Nothing feels better than being whacked across the jaw by your own goalkeeper. Tulio was solid for his team throughout the game. Near the end of the regulation time <strong>Kawashima</strong> suddenly decided to test his flying abilities in a diagonal ball. He didn’t manage to get the ball but ended up landing a well timed jab on Tulio’s jaw.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/japan-goalkeeper-eiji/image/9254208?term=kawashima+tulio" target="_blank"><img src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9254208/japan-goalkeeper-eiji/japan-goalkeeper-eiji.jpg?size=380&imageId=9254208" border="0" alt="Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima collides with Japan's Tulio during a 2010 World Cup second round soccer match against Paraguay at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria June 29, 2010. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)" width="380" height="267" /></a></p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><em>The warm, fuzzy feeling of your teammate's knee on your jaw</em> </p> <em><strong><span style="color: #ff0000">Crybaby of the day:</span></strong></em> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Cristiano Ronaldo:</strong> Whiner on & off the field. He switched to an invisible mode in the match. He has scored just one goal in last 12 games for Portugal. After the match the most expensive player in the world promptly pointed his finger towards his hapless coach.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/spain-portugal/image/9257298?term=spain+portugal" target="_blank"><img src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9257298/spain-portugal/spain-portugal.jpg?size=380&imageId=9257298" border="0" alt="June 29, 2010 - Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa - epa02230102 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the FIFA 2010 World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, 29 June 2010." width="380" height="253" /></a></p> <p style="padding-left: 270px"><em>Prima Dona </em></p> <span style="color: #ff0000"><strong><em>Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Award of the Day:</em></strong></span> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Fernando Llorente</strong>: Replacing an off-color Torres, Llorente added much needed physical presence & energy up-top. He partnered Villa beautifully & created space for him by being a constant head-ache for Portugal defence. The Athletic Bilbao man enhanced his reputation in this mini-cameo.</p> <p style="padding-left: 120px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/south-africa-cape-town/image/9256966?term=llorente" target="_blank"><img src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9256966/south-africa-cape-town/south-africa-cape-town.jpg?size=380&imageId=9256966" border="0" alt="CAPE TOWN, June 30, 2010 Fernando Llorente (L) of Spain breaks through during the 2010 World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Portugal at Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, on June 29, 2010. Spain won the match 1-0." width="380" height="306" /></a><em> Nice little cameo from Llorente</em></p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000">Time-To-Send-Your-Crystal-Ball-Back-To-The-Shop Award:</span></em></strong> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Nike</strong>, for their accurate foresight. The players Nike picked to be stars in the world cup all turned out to be huge disappointments. Rooney, Ribery, Ronaldo, Cannavaro, Drogba were all pathetic & have been ousted. Ronaldinho didn’t even make it to the squad.</p> <strong><em><span style="color: #ff0000"> Injuries-can-be-fun Award:</span></em></strong> Pepe, came back from injury with a crop of curly hair. It might be result of a transplant, but you never know.