Note: As this page gets pushed down by future posts, you can find it in the banner as “2010-11 Season Preview.”

Cross-posted on our new partner site Spanishfootball.info. There you will find information on La Liga teams other than Real Madrid and Barcelona. Welcome, new readers!

What happened last year?

In a sentence: Ernesto Valverde, Nilmar, the economic downturn, Juan Carlos Garrido, 7th place in La Liga.

Manuel Pellegrini’s replacement was Ernesto Valverde, who came off a Greek league and cup double with Olympiakos and reached the UEFA Cup final with Espanyol, in addition to a long playing career at Athletic Bilbao. But things went awry from the start: no wins and just 3 points in the opening 7 rounds, including a loss to cellar-dwellers Xerez. Management remained defiant, but the best squad in Villarreal history never gelled. Valverde was fired after a lifeless 0-2 home loss to Osasuna at the end of January.

Honorato da Silva Nilmar was the most expensive signing in Villarreal history, coming over from Brazil’s Internacional for a reported €11 million. It took him a few games to get going, but his class and smile always shone through. A club-leading 11 goals in 33 appearances was a solid debut campaign, but much more is expected of the canarinha.

The economic downturn hit small-town Villarreal CF hard. Sebastián Eguren, Fabricio Fuentes, and Jony Pereira left in the winter transfer window, presaging a further player exodus, and attendance at El Madrigal, sponsorship, and owner Fernando Roig’s ceramics business all suffered. As a goodwill gesture, Roig opened the gates for free to all recently laid-off season ticketholders (and has extended the offer for 2010-11). Most recently, the club has learned that it may need to replace longtime sponsor Aeroport Castelló.

Juan Carlos Garrido replaced Valverde as manager on the heels of Villarreal B’s flying start to life in the Segunda. Critics questioned if Garrido could shake a veteran squad out of its doldrums; despite a few bumps along the way, particularly the club’s away form, Villarreal finished with 56 points, good for 7th place in La Liga. Not a bad result, which earned Garrido the right to select his squad in 2010-11.

What changes have been made- management, players, etc.?

In addition to the search for a new sponsor, B team caretaker Paco Herrera left for Celta de Vigo, so former Cádiz boss Javi Gracia returns to his old playing grounds as manager.

Players In: Carlos Marchena (from Valencia), Borja Valero (West Bromwich Albion). Quality over quantity. Marchena provides steel and experience, and another world champion in the dressing room could not hurt. On loan for 2010-11, Borja Valero was last season’s revelation in La Liga with Mallorca. A €6 million fee is not a bad price, and stealing him from under Sevilla’s nose is sweet. Borja is a Real Madrid youth team product and wanted to stay in Spain after his loan spell. A long-term fill-in for Marcos Senna, expect Borja to play in central midfield with Bruno Soriano for years.

Players Out: Sebastián Eguren (to Sporting de Gijón), Damián Escudero (50% of rights to Boca Juniors), Diego Godín (50% of rights to Atlético Madrid), Ariel Ibagaza (Olympiakos), Joseba Llorente (Real Sociedad), Iván Marcano (on loan to Getafe), Robert Pirès, Javi Venta. The common thread, excluding misfits Escudero and Marcano and cash cow Godín? Older players with high wages who don’t fit into Garrido’s new system. Makes Sr. Roig’s pocketbook happy, but the squad’s youth may be exposed.

Who could break through and make a name for himself?

Safe bets: Jefferson Montero, Mateo Musacchio. A dynamic Ecuadorean striker/winger, Montero has debuted in the Europa League but not in La Liga due to the foreign player limit (a maximum of 3 per team who lack a European passport). With the Argentine Escudero’s departure, Montero is set to unleash his pace and technical ability on Spanish football. Expect some highlight-reel goals and many drawn yellow cards. And Argentine central defender Musacchio will spend his first full year with the A team, but his performances to close out last season made him known to supporters.

Wild card: Cristóbal. The oldest of the 9 promoted from the B team, Cristóbal provides cover at winger, perhaps the team’s shallowest position. A constant threat in the Segunda, Cristóbal could provide a spark with a few assists (in Escudero’s absence) and a stern challenge to Cani’s starting spot. A very important season in his career.

What are realistic expectations for the season?

A top-six finish in La Liga, a serious run at the Copa del Rey, and the Europa League quarterfinals. What do you think the club’s goals should be?

Part 3/4 in our player personnel series. Previously featured were the goalkeepers and midfielders. I’m labeling Fuster as a striker and Montero a midfielder based on the preseason, but that designation is subject to change.

Likely starters:

Giuseppe Rossi: Il Bambino has achieved a lot at the tender age of 23. The object of many American fans’ ire (not mine), he was left out of the Italian World Cup squad due to a Serie A-only selection policy. Silly, but it’s just a blip on the radar. With 13, 15, and 17 goals in his 3 seasons at Villarreal, Rossi will shoot for 20 in 2010-11. A versatile player with the ability to both run at defenders and play with his back to them.

Nilmar: A disappointing World Cup (for player and country) did not tarnish a successful return to European football. The canarinha led Villarreal with 11 goals in La Liga, though he scored just once in 11 appearances in the Copa del Rey and Europa League. A slow start was not surprising, considering the acclimatization period; Nilmar really took off as a winger in the 4-3-3. He paired well up front with Rossi, but the other strikers may not be a natural fit.

Likely bench players:

David Fuster: He was a revelation in 2009, not to mention that he ruined Barcelona’s perfect season at home. But with Valverde’s departure and the shift to a 4-3-3, his playing time diminished. He slots in well as a support striker behind Rossi, but no other role has worked. I’d like to see a diamond midfield formation with Fuster behind Rossi and Nilmar, but the local boy from Oliva has only featured as a striker in the preseason. A big season for his future.

Jozy Altidore: Will he stay? If so, how much will he play? Anywhere from a starter in the Copa del Rey and Europa League to a spot in Garrido’s doghouse is possible. I think he and Nilmar could work well, but that partnership will take time to develop. Talent and skill, yes. But is he committed to making things work in Villarreal? Time will tell. If not, he might be off to Turkey, Holland, or England in the winter transfer window.

Marco Ruben: The Argentine was too good for the Segunda, scoring 17 times in 31 appearances. This eye-popping success made him the object of EPL side Wigan Athletic’s desire, but a deal fell through at the last minute. At age 23, it’s time for Ruben to get a real shot with Villarreal. A poacher who relies on positioning and timing, he seems perfect as a late-game substitute (forward to 3:45). He is in line for a bigger role if Nilmar or Rossi leaves after this season.

Part 2/4 in our player personnel series. Part 1 was on goalkeepers; maddi really chose the tough one. I’m labeling Montero as a midfielder and Fuster a striker, based on where they have featured in the preseason. But that designation is subject to Garrido’s whims.

Likely starters:

Borja Valero: The club’s shiny new offseason signing, Borja is a natural for Villarreal’s patented doble pivote; he will be the distributor to Bruno’s ballwinner. It will take some time to adjust to Garrido’s system, especially with his preseason niggles, but a lot of the team’s success rides on Borja’s shoulders. Is he up for the challenge?

Bruno Soriano: The newest member of La Furia Roja, Bruno is a late bloomer at 26. He showed flashes in the past but finally put things together in 2009-10, showing Sebastián Eguren the door. His nonchalant back passes and turns always scare me, but my fear has diminished over time. Let’s see if 2010-11 is a breakout year or sophomore slump.

Rubén Cani: Perhaps the most vulnerable member of the expected starting XI, based on his streakiness. Fairly or not, Cani has earned a reputation as a small-game player; when Real Madrid or Barcelona takes the pitch, he shrinks from the challenge. Cani faces stiff competition from B teamers past and present. A big part of Villarreal’s runner-up finish in 2007-08, Cani could be on the move if this season does not pan out.

Santi Cazorla: The most unassuming star in Spanish football. Beloved by his teammates for his humility and ability, Santi is indisputably the club’s best player. Keeping him on the pitch in 2010-11 is essential to a title run or top-four finish in La Liga. Santi can do it all on the field and is becoming a leader off it. Having resisted Real Madrid’s advances in 2008, expect the 25-year-old to spearhead Villarreal for years.

Likely bench players:

Cristóbal Márquez: An intriguing player. Cristóbal is not as skilled as Cazorla, but he does possess a similar dynamism. Late in a match, he could make the difference. On the other hand, the club has not had success with this sort of player (see Matías Fernández, Damián Escudero). If all goes well, Cristóbal could challenge Cani for a starting spot; if not, he could be on his way out.

Javi Matilla: With Matilla, it’s a matter of when, not if. He’s a star in the making, possessing great field vision and game management skills. Senna’s age will provide an opening for him and fellow B teamer Marcos Gullón. Matilla was a man among boys in the Segunda, so a year of training with the A team and somewhat sporadic playing time still is best for his development.

Jefferson Montero: Ask a South American soccer fan, and they will tell you about Montero. He didn’t play in the Ecuadorean top flight only because teams were afraid to lose him when European clubs came calling. 9 goals in the Segunda last season was just a glimpse of his immense talent. He needs to curb the tendency to go it alone, but La Liga is in store for a treat. The most exciting Villarreal player since Diego Forlán.

Marcos Senna: Professional football is a cutthroat business. Senna went from starring in Euro 2008 to watching the 2010 World Cup at home. Injuries played a big part, but so did age and diminishing ability. He’s still the captain when on the pitch, but his presence isn’t guaranteed any longer. Enjoy his splendid free kicks this season while you can.

It’s not Jozy Altidore’s first goal in a Villarreal uniform:

But his goal yesterday against Besiktas led to a Villarreal win (forward to 5:05):

And it asks Sr. Roig and Juan Carlos Garrido a very important question: what is Jozy’s future with Villarreal CF? El Periódico Mediterráneo rightfully highlighted Jefferson Montero, but the club site noted that Jozy was “very active in the game’s final minutes.” The game swung when Jozy came on for David Fuster in the 55th minute.

The contrasts are clear: Marco Ruben and David Fuster lack his strength, and Nilmar cannot match his pace. Jozy would fill Llorente’s void, though Rossi will generally feature at center forward. But should Villarreal stunt his long-term development with spotty playing time at age 20? Not to mention his transfer value after South Africa.

Altidore looks to be motivated, fit, and battle-tested after the EPL and World Cup. His technical ability and attitude must improve, but with his raw talent, the sky’s the limit. Another loan deal makes sense, waiting for Rossi or Nilmar to leave next summer, but an option to buy may push him out the door for good. Montero at winger means that David Fuster is Jozy’s competition for the fourth striker position. So I’m hoping for a Fuster loan deal (Levante? Hércules?) or for Garrido to carry 5 forwards.

If Jozy stays, he will begin as a change of pace substitute. However, if he cannot crack this season’s roster, both sides may wish to part. The club should recoup most (if not all) of his $10 million transfer fee, and Altidore needs to grow before Brazil 2014. Logic says that he should stay, but money and squad size disagree. What do you think?

Winners from yesterday:

• Jozy Altidore. Has a role as a true center forward. Poacher’s goal.
• Rubén Cani. A goal, an assist, and lots of fouls received. Doing his job.
• Jefferson Montero. Explosive. Brilliant assist, laying Cani’s volley on a platter.

Losers:

• David Fuster. Creates? Yes. Finishes? No. Has a role on the team? Maybe.
• Carlos Marchena. 10% out of form. Just a post-South Africa layoff? I think so.
• Nilmar. Also a bit off. May need Rossi to be comfortable.

The club appears to come into the season with a similar goalkeeping lineup as it had last year, with Diego López leading the group, to be backed up by Xavi Oliva. This is not definitively settled, however, with newly-promoted Juan Carlos waiting in the wings, ready to be playing top-tier football. It appears that the club has a decision to make regarding the backup. One of them, Oliva or Juan Carlos, will have to be loaned out.

Diego López Rodríguez

Unless there is a dramatic change, Diego López will be the starting keeper for Villarreal during the 2010-2011 season. For the past two years, there have been constant rumors that he is heading off to one club or another, usually in the Premiere League, but these have not come to fruition, and he really appears to be happy at the club.

Overall, Lopez had a below-average year by his standards. In his 38 La Liga starts last season, Lopez gave up 57 goals, a 1.5 Goals Against Average per match. That is not a terrible stat, but it isn’t great either. Compared to the rest of the league, only six other teams gave up more goals over the course of the season. Obviously, a significant blame for the number of goals goes to Villarreal’s porous back line; in the end, though, the number of goals allowed eventually comes to rest at the keeper’s feet. He did make 112 saves, and had a save percentage of .66. The numbers are not the only sign of a down year. Many people might also look at the comparative lack of interest in his services from other clubs over the summer, as well as the snub from Vicente del Bosque as evidence of his off year.

No matter if your opinion is that he had a terrible year or a great year, you have to believe that he can play much better than that, as he did the year before. In 2008-2009, he had a 1.42 GAA, and made 126 saves out of 180 shots, for a save percentage of 70%.

Lopez cannot rest on his laurels and feel assured that the job is his for the entire season. Last year, he had only nominal competition for the starting position from Xavi Oliva, following the backup’s signing from Castellon. While it is certain Lopez will be the starter (again assuming no sale), he will have newcomer Juan Carlos hot on his heels, itching for his own starting role. While Xavi Oliva may have been perfectly comfortable signing on to sit the bench, not many 23-year-olds are going to feel content playing the backup role.

One thing that you have to admit – up year or down, Diego Lopez has been the mark of reliability in goal for the Yellow Submarine. Over the past two years, he has played every minute of every Liga match. Last year he did leave a Europa League match due to injury, but recovered before the next Liga match rolled around..

Juan Carlos Sánchez Martínez

The club has not yet determined – at least publicly – who will be Lopez’ backup, but my money is on the young Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos just turned 23 on the 27th of July, and is in all likelihood the future in goal for Villarreal. He has played for Villarreal’s youth ranks since the 2003-2004 season, and now finds himself a member of the first team.

While still listed officially as the third-choice keeper, Juan Carlos is clearly the future of the club, and I cannot see Juan Carlos Garrido letting him rot away on the bench or sent off to another team. Plus, Juan Carlos knows how to win. In 2006-2007, he helped carry the Villarreal B team to promotion from the Tercera to the Segunda B. The very next year, he lead the team to promotion to Segunda A, making Villarreal C.F. the only club in Spain with teams in the first two divisions. And last year he didn’t slow down, helping the team to a 7th place finish, and keeping a GAA of only 1.33.

This isn’t the first time Juan Carlos has suited up with the A team. On a few occasions he has found himself on the Villarreal bench when the keeping situation was especially thin. One match, during the 2007-2008 season, the first team unexpectedly required his services following Diego Lopez’ expulsion in a match against Almeria. He was with the team because of an injury at the time to Sebastian Viera. Although he couldn’t stop the penalty that he had to face the first minute on the pitch, he did manage to keep Almeria scoreless for the rest of the match.

Javier “Xavi” Oliva González

Xavi Oliva was brought over from Castellon last summer, and has a contract that runs through the end of the 2010-2011 season. He didn’t see much action with Villarreal following his arrival from the provincial capital, but generally played at an acceptable level for a backup.

Oliva’s signing with Villarreal was his first opportunity to play for a Primera Division squad. While he didn’t make it into any Liga matches this season, he did manage an appearance against Lazio in a Europa League match, and started a few matches in the Copa del Rey.

Oliva is not exactly past his prime – he’s only 34 – but with Juan Carlos available, he is inevitably on the way out of the Submarine’s plans. Garrido knows Juan Carlos well from the years of coaching him with Villarreal B, and I would not be surprised to see Oliva loaned out to a Segunda A club before the start of the season.

There are still a number of questions remaining for the club. Who should be the backup? Should the club dedicate the backup to a particular competition – such as the Copa? Or should Diego Lopez be first choice throughout all competitions?

These questions should be solved within the next month. My money is on Juan Carlos being the backup. We’ll see.

Welcome to the club, Carlos Marchena. The 31-year-old central defender has signed for 3 years from our local rivals Valencia CF, with whom he spent the past decade. Fabricio Fuentes left in January, while Diego Godín and Gonzalo Rodríguez are on their way out, so Marchena is a sorely-needed stabilizing force on our back line.

I like this signing. Let’s look at the arguments for and against it. What do you think?

Cons:

• Paying a transfer fee for a 31-year-old. Maybe illogical, but €2 million is nothing these days, even for a one-year buyout. And we’ve banked nearly €10 million from salary savings and transfer fees for Escudero and Llorente.
• Too old. By comparison, Fabio Cannavaro and Carles Puyol each were 32 when they hoisted the World Cup. I’ll grant that Marchena may not be a starter in two years, but the club has some experience in navigating that situation (see: Javi Venta).
• Longtime Valencia captain. Los Che is our biggest rival, so weakening them is a good plan. And Marchena started his career with Sevilla, so we may have beaten them to another transfer target.

Pros:

• World Cup champion. It can’t hurt to have another one around. At the very least, Marchena will be a great role model for Musacchio, Catalá, and Kiko.
• Knows La Liga. Top-flight football is as much about physical ability as knowing your opposition. And it would be nice to get a few veteran calls in our favor.
• Starter at Euro 2008. Just as Senna, Cazorla, and Diego López were phased out of the Spanish squad by Vicente del Bosque, Marchena started alongside Puyol in 2008 but was replaced by Piqué by 2010. I like that a number of our Spanish players will have a chip on their shoulder coming into the season.

UPDATE: A great result for Villarreal, as they went into north London and stole the show from Champions League-bound Tottenham with a 1-4 victory. Giuseppe Rossi stole the show for the Yellow Submarine with three goals, but as you can see in the comments, the likes of Borja Valero, Jefferson Montero, and Marco Ruben in the second half really gave us something to get excited about.

As Harry Redknapp said after the match, “They’re a great side, I was very impressed with them. We had a good squad out, but they were sharp. They were different class.”

Here are your highlights for those of you like me who did not get to see the match:

______
After two successful friendlies against Irish opposition, Villarreal faces its first real test of the preseason on Thursday evening at White Hart Lane. With the Europa League playoff on the horizon, it’s time for new signing Borja Valero to strut his stuff, among others.

Tottenham Hotspur has qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1962. Congratulations. And the club just returned from two matches in New York City against New York Red Bulls (win) and Sporting Lisbon (draw). If the EPL weren’t so overrun by money, then Tottenham’s success might have been a bigger story. Similar to a smaller Spanish club that we all know and love?

Tottenham has some nice players, including the Croatian trio of Vedran Corluka, Nico Kranjcar, and Luka Modric, along with previously rumored Villarreal targets Adel Taarabt and Roman Pavlyuchenko. And shockingly for an EPL team, they have some talented young Brits: Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas, and Aaron Lennon. Should be a fun match, though both clubs have an eye on European competition.

Those of you able to watch at 3 pm Eastern Time (airing live in Spain on GolTV), please leave your comments and reactions in the thread. Hope to hear a lot about Montero.

We’re a big club now. The team is touring Ireland (Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers), England (Tottenham Hotspur), and Poland (Lechia Gdansk) for 4 preseason matches and countless questions about world champion Joan Capdevila.

Juan Carlos Garrido’s first 25-man squad of the 2010-11 season:

GKs (3): Diego López, Oliva, and Juan Carlos.
Ds (7): Ángel, Gonzalo, Musacchio, Kiko, Catalá, Mario, and Joan Oriol.
MFs (11): Senna, Bruno, Cani, Cazorla, Borja Valero, Cristóbal, Natxo Insa, Matilla, Marcos Gullón, Hernán Pérez, and Castellani.
Fs (4): Fuster, Rossi, Marco Ruben, and Jefferson Montero.

For the sake of discussion, assume no further transfers. How does this squad compare to the one at the Anoeta in late August? What is your first-choice starting XI?

GKs, 2-3: By promoting Juan Carlos (and 8 of his closest friends), there are 3 keepers in the squad. I think Juan Carlos is ready if a big offer comes in for Diego López, but that appears unlikely. Something has to give, as a 23 year-old third-choice keeper makes no sense. Xavi Oliva on loan to our promoted local friends Hercules or Levante?

Ds, 8: Capdevila and Godín will return from their holidays, sending Kiko back down. If the charrúa leaves, Marchena or another experienced defender will complement Gonzalo and the young pups. Musacchio and Catalá will get their chances; while Joan Oriol has it tough, Mario Gaspar should fill in when the bad Ángel rears its ugly head.

MFs, 8-9: Natxo Insa, Hernán Pérez, Castellani, and Marcos Gullón are filial players, though Gullón has earned a look. Fuster will move back to the midfield with Nilmar’s return, but there may still be an opening. I would love Achille Emana from Betis, but that might be too costly. We have 4 central (Borja Valero, Bruno, Matilla, Senna) and 4 wide players (Cani, Cazorla, Cristóbal, Fuster), but an Escudero-type could be useful if Cristóbal does not pan out. A knock to Santi and Montero moves back to winger?

Fs, 4: Even the biggest Jozy supporter does not expect him at the club this season. With Nilmar in the fold, it will be interesting to see how Garrido handles this quartet. We will miss Llorente’s physical presence, so does the 4-3-3 return? Rossi and Nilmar out wide with either B teamer in the middle would be lethal.

Today is the big day. A quick recap of the medal round to date:

Uruguay 2-3 Netherlands: A five-goal thriller; who knew there would be another? The Dutch class shone through, along with the absences of Lodeiro, Lugano, and Suarez. Another all-European final, despite the South American quarterfinal quartet. Wonderful for tiny Uruguay (3.5 million people) to return to its place in world football.

Germany 0-1 Spain: Another dominating performance by La Furia Roja, despite only 51% possession. More credit is due to Paraguay and Switzerland based on the Spaniards’ other performances. Germany never got going and had but one good chance in this match, the tame volley by Toni Kroos saved by Casillas.

Uruguay 2-3 Germany: Another third-place finish for Die Mannschaft. Can you comprehend their disappointment? Just wait for the evolution of this team in Brazil 2014. Unbelievable that Uruguay scored 4 goals in the medal round and finished 4th. Forlan hitting the bar was a tough end to a great tournament for the celeste.

Villarreal watch: Diego Godin played all 90 minutes in both of Uruguay’s 3-2 defeats. He was at fault for a goal or two, not surprisingly based on his form. Joan Capdevila played all 90 minutes in Spain’s semifinal victory and should start in La Gran Final. First time that a Villarreal player has been on the biggest stage in world sport. Buena suerte, Joan.

A positional breakdown of Netherlands – Spain:

Goalkeeper: Edge, Spain. Saint Iker is an experienced keeper and seems back on form per his performance against Paraguay. Stekelenburg is solid but lacks big-match experience, along with exhibiting a little uncertainty against Forlan due to the Jabulani.

Defense: Slight edge, Netherlands. I still have questions about the Spanish central defense pairing. Familiarity is nice, but they are short and give up a lot of corners. The Dutch are a solid unit, but the edge is minimal. And Capdevila is the man.

Midfield: Slight edge, Netherlands. Incredibly, the Dutch have more depth and quality at this position. Xavi and Iniesta are countered by Sneijder and Van der Vaart, while Van Bommel is a better hard man than Busquets and Robben out wide is unmatched. Fabregas on the bench is nice, but del Bosque wishes that he had Cazorla.

Strikers: Edge, Spain. As a nominal Liverpool supporter, I have a lot of admiration for Dirk Kuijt. Not so much for Robin van Persie, but they are adequate. Problem is that David Villa and a half-strength Fernando Torres are much better. El Guaje is on a roll, and I am convinced that he will score. And Llorente is a nice option to milk the clock.

Prediction: 2-1 to Spain. Either way, one side wins its first World Cup. Enjoy the match!

Friday’s matches were fantastic. Saturday’s were good, but in a more understated way. A recap of the 1/4 finals:

Netherlands 2-1 Brazil: The shock heard round the world. I thought Brazil played the most sublime opening 45 minutes in this year’s World Cup. If not for a wonderful save by Villarreal target Martin Stekelenburg on Kaka, the Orange Machine’s comeback would not have been possible. But Julio Cesar made a grievous mistake early in the 2nd half, and the match unbelievably was level. Holland then was in the ascendancy and deservedly took the lead on two headers in the box. A Felipe Melo red card and no super-sub later (anyone else think of Ronaldinho?), and the favorites were out. The best team never to win a World Cup moves on– to the drumbeat of destiny?

Uruguay 1-1 Ghana (4-2 PK): If Holland is the best team never to win it all, Uruguay is the worst to have won (no offense). But Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez have led the Charruas back to the 1/2 finals for the first time in a half-century. Sulley Muntari, given a chance to start, fired a rocket that tricked Muslera to give the Africans a lead on the stroke of halftime. Unsurprisingly, a sublime Forlan free kick tied the score and led to the final drama. They are calling it a controversy here in America, but as otf noted, Ghana should have to earn it rather than being awarded a goal. Gyan hit the bar, then courageously buried his chance in penalties, but two Muslera saves and an Abreu penalty a la Panenka later, and the Charruas are in the last 4.

Argentina 0-4 Germany: Cue the Maradona vitriol. I thought the Maradona experiment would fail, and finally Argentina met its match. Nigeria, South Korea, Greece, and Mexico was a comfortable road to the 1/4 finals, but Die Mannschaft exposed Argentina’s 4 center backs as slow, out of position, and lacking width. Wingers Maxi Rodriguez and Angel di Maria refused to track back, turning the scoreline into a bloodbath. Wait another 4 years to see the best of Lionel Messi on the international stage.

Paraguay 0-1 Spain: Jose Luis Chilavert was right about Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres, but the two missed penalties canceled each other out. The better team won, barely. David Villa is a menace; Fernando Torres, not so much. La Furia Roja better settle on its best XI before Germany comes calling on Wednesday. This game cried out for Santi Cazorla and Salvador Cabanas; alas for Paraguay, its loss was more acute. Unfortunate result for the Guaranies, who should have tied it late but for Saint Iker.

Villarreal watch: 2 winners and 1 loser this round. Diego Godin advanced without featuring in his side’s thrilling win in penalties; he may be available against the Netherlands on Tuesday. Joan Capdevila played 90 minutes in his side’s workmanlike victory and sent in a few dangerous crosses, though the Spanish attack goes through the opposite flank. Nilmar entered as a late sub with Brazil trailing and down to 10 men; he barely touched the ball. No goals in 4 appearances did little to help his transfer stock.