In the States, the media ranks games in terms of expected audience size and national interest. All USA matches get massive coverage, followed by those involving Brazil, England, Germany and Italy. Some of these fixtures live up to their press. Some don’t. Some that slip under the American media radar are the hard fought, end-to-end tests of skill, character and endurance that should not be missed. Some… are not.
Unfortunately for fans and viewers, neither Paraguay nor Japan played to win. Rather, they played not to lose. Instead of 90 minutes of action, we got 120 minutes with few chances, tight marking, a couple of superb saves, few real chances and lots of tension. Japan seemed to me the bigger threat in the 1st half. Traffic tended to be 1-way the other way in the 2nd half with Paraguay keeping possession and bringing wave after striped wave to Japan’s goal, where it inevitably petered out.
Action? It looked like Tanaka flashed his header past the goal in the 63rd minute, but it wasn’t so. The replay made it clear the ball had come off a Paraguayan defender and should’ve been a corner. Benitez had his best shot blocked; Valdez fought past the Japanese defense, but Kawashima came boldly off his line and defused his attack. Japan missed a chance at the end of 2nd half stoppage time. The match ended 0 – 0 and went into extra time. Extra time was more of the same, and led to a penalty shoot-out.
In the end, tears were shed on both sides. Yuichi Kamano cried because he slammed his penalty shot against the bar. As the only player on either side to crap out, his botched shot bought Japan a ticket home. The other bawler, oddly enough, was the Paraguayan coach Gerardo Martino. Sending Paraguay to the Quarterfinals for the 1st time in WC history, he expressed his relief, pleasure and pride with salt-wet eyes and sobbing.