Low's boys have the belief

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Coach Joachim Low hopes Germany will ride the wave of youthful confidence after their 4-1 hammering of England to take them past Argentina in Saturday's FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final.

Many of his young side have only recently graduated from Germany's U-21 team which won last summer's European Championships, and while his team has an average age of just under 25 years, they are eager to take on Diego Maradona's Argentina.

"There is a very positive feeling in the team. We have gained a lot of confidence from the victory against England," said Low ahead of Saturday's clash in Cape Town.

"A lot of the younger players became European U-21 champions and it has given them a lot of confidence for a tournament like this."

Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties when the teams met at the same stage of Germany 2006, but Low has yet to nominate the five players who could take spot-kicks this time.

"We have already practiced penalties, each player took two," said Low. "But you can never recreate the pressure or the nervous tension.

We have found weaknesses in their side, but I will keep that information for my players.

Joachim Low, Germany coach

"You don't know who will still be on the pitch after 120 minutes of football, injuries can change everything, so we will only decide that after extra-time has been played."

Although his side hammered both Australia and England on the way to the quarter-finals, Loew knows Maradona's Argentina will be step up in class, but the Germany coach says he has found weaknesses to exploit.

"They have great qualities. For me, they are one of the favorites for this tournament. They have a lot of experience, they have an impressive attack and not just through Lionel Messi alone.

"We have found weaknesses in their side, but I will keep that information for my players."

Argentina have won all four of their games at this World Cup and Low says they are playing with supreme confidence under Maradona. "Maradona was a phenomenon and an idol. His team plays with a lot of self-confidence and pride, they will be hard to beat.

"We have several players in the team who faced them in 2006, that was a very tense game with lots of commitment. We can't afford many errors against Argentina, they can punish any mistakes very quickly."

The only fitness doubt surrounds Brazil-born striker Cacau who suffered a muscle strain before the game against England.

Alonso curbs Spanish enthusiasm

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Xabi Alonso is desperate to play down the "euphoria" already engulfing Spain's FIFA World Cup™ campaign as they seek to add the Trophy to their UEFA EURO 2008 triumph.

La Roja overcame Iberian rivals Portugal with a narrow 1-0 victory in their last-16 tie in Cape Town last night. David Villa's second-half strike was enough to propel them into a quarter-final date with unfancied Paraguay, and within two matches of the showpiece final. Midfielder Alonso, however, is concerned about the attitude back home.

"We have been very patient and have been clever enough not to rush into things, we let the goal against Portugal come at the right moment, without any panicking," he said. "After the goal, we had more spaces to play our game.

We are still a long way from the semis, we definitely have to ignore the euphoria in the country and the fact that people already see us playing in the semis.

Spain's Xabi Alonso

"We are still a long way from the semis, we definitely have to ignore the euphoria in the country and the fact that people already see us playing in the semis. The next match is Paraguay and this is the only thing we have to focus on."

Cotinuity
Vicente Del Bosque was similarly cautious. However, the Spain coach does believe his side are still riding the crest of a wave following their illuminating triumph at EURO 2008.

"Over the last two years we have been showing our potential," said the 59-year-old, who inherited the side from Luis Aragones following their success in Austria and Switzerland.

"It is two years since we won the EURO and that was a huge boost. We continued with same approach as the previous coach and players. We will always continue with the lines set out two or so years ago."

Last night's win at Green Point Stadium came two years to the day since Spain lifted the European crown. Del Bosque's side dominated on the ball as usual but had been frustrated for long periods by Portugal, who had decent chances of their own.

Ultimately Spain's patience paid off, however, as Villa's 63rd-minute goal secured victory and a scrap with Paraguay. They will now fancy themselves in a quarter-final clash with the South Americans, while Portugal - who had Ricardo Costa dismissed in the final minute - face a disappointing trip home. Centre-back Gerard Pique believes La Roja are picking up momentum as the tournament goes on, having suffered a shocking start when they lost to Switzerland.

"I think we are playing better since tournament started," said the Barcelona defender. "In every game we get better and against Portugal we played a really good game. David Villa is on fire and he scored another goal which is really good news for us.

I think we are playing better since tournament started. Against Portugal we played a really good game.

Spain's Gerard Pique

"I think we've got so many players with a lot of quality, so we can then control the game and it's easier to win. Sometimes, like the day against Switzerland, you have chances but you can't score the goal and the opposition has one go and scores. That is football and it's why sometimes the best teams don't win."

Pique offered words of support to Fernando Torres, who has looked out of sorts in attack following a knee injury and was taken off before the goal against Portugal. "He needs time," said the 23-year-old.

"I think he had two operations and it's always difficult for a player to come back from that situation. He has been getting better with every game. He is a really important player for us."

Roque wants to roll with it

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Paraguay may be celebrating reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time in their history but striker Roque Santa Cruz insists they are not ready to settle for that.

The South Americans reached uncharted territory after overcoming a Japan side who were also looking to make it through to the last eight for the first time in Pretoria last night.

There was nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes in which neither nation could produce a goal or much in the way of chances, and it was left to the first penalty shoot-out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to decide the winner.

That honour went to Paraguay, who scored all five of their spot-kicks while Japan missed their third when Yuichi Komano smashed his effort against the crossbar.

Santa Cruz was understandably delighted with the historic win, but wants their record-breaking run to continue beyond their quarter-final showdown with Spain.

"We're very pleased, very happy. It can't be measured yet how big an achievement this is for us but we are very happy to get through," Santa Cruz said.

We are very confident that in tough games we always play better.

Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay striker

"We set our goals very clearly and we said anything below this (reaching the quarter-finals) would be a disappointment. We've achieved that goal, but now that we are here we want to get even further and keep making history for our country.

"We are very pleased with the result, but we are also very keen to go back and rest now and have a great game in the next round."

Gerardo Martino's side will now meet Spain in Johannesburg on Saturday after the European champions knocked out Portugal.

"We are very confident that in tough games we always play better, and hopefully it will be the same again in the quarter-finals," Santa Cruz added

Paraguay were the lowest scorers of the eight pool winners after netting just three goals in their three Group F games - two of which came in the win over Slovakia.

The Albirroja also failed to create many goalscoring chances against Japan, but Santa Cruz hopes it will be a different story against the Spanish.

"We had two games where people were very concerned about the defending and it's very tough to create chances when people are defending with 10 or 11 players. We still had chances but we didn't have the fortune to score," said Santa Cruz, who has yet to get off the mark in South Africa.

"I think we're getting in positions and we're doing the right things. Some day things will start to fall for us, and hopefully it will be in the quarter-finals."

Paraguay's joy was Japan's disappointment last night as the Blue Samurai missed out on their own chance to make history.

Japan had only once before reached the last 16, on home soil in 2002, and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima hopes they can continue to make progress for the next FIFA World Cup.

"We can take confidence and have proved that the Japanese team can play much better than imagined. That's a good experience and we have to carry on for the next World Cup," said Kawashima. "I tried to go into the penalty shoot-out with confidence but it's very disappointing I couldn't save any."

BLK JKS: Positive things will come our way

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Now based in the USA and signed to Secretly Canadian, BLK JKS (pronounced Black Jacks) are a four piece art-rock band with thick roots in South Africa. The band returned to their hometown of Johannesburg to perform with Alicia Keys at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert.FIFA.com spoke to the band during Africa’s shining moment, the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

FIFA.com: Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to talk to FIFA.com. Are you all football fans?
Everyone: Yes!

Did returning home to play the opening concert of the FIFA World Cup, stir up any special emotions for you guys?
Molefi Makananise: It’s a good thing to know that you are taking part in historical events. It means you are on the right track and that you can inspire the up and comings - those who want to also do what you do. It doesn’t only need to be about music, it can be about anything in life.

Did any World Cup moments make a special mark on your childhood?
Lindani Buthelezi: The Italian guy who missed a penalty, Baggio. He went into deep depression mode thereafter man; that was just a funny, historical memory for me.

Mpumi Mcata: For me it was seeing Gary Lineker and those guys [England] sweat trying to keep up with Roger Milla at Italy 1990. Also when Milla was doing the dance at the corner flag. That’s totally the moment for me.

If you had to describe your music in the form of one football player, who would that player be and why?
Mpumi Mcata: Doctor Khumalo of South Africa would have been perfect, so would Zinedine Zidane. Mainly for their grace. The way they move, the way they play... there’s something about it. My mother liked watching those guys play and she’s not even into football. There’s a kind of ballet that’s happening.

You guys have a pretty unconventional sound, do you feel that it is an example of the new South African cultural identity developing, or is it something that’s on its own track?
Mpumi Mcata: I think everybody in South Africa is completely on their own track to some extent because it’s so new. Everything’s branching off. People are trying to rediscover things. We’re a brand new democracy; we are 16 years old and just kind of finding ourselves. It’s the same thing with the band; it’s self-discovery and if we’re honest with ourselves then I think people will be able to relate to that honest and sincerity. It’s a high currency and I think positive things will come our way - for everybody in all industries.

BLK JKS are Molefi Makananise (bass), Tshepang Ramoba (drums), Lindani Buthelezi (vocals/guitar) and Mpumi Mcata (lead guitar).

Elano's a miss for Brazil

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Brazil will be without Elano for Friday's FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final against the Netherlands.

The team's medical staff said the former Manchester City midfielder has not recovered from an ankle injury and could be out for the rest of the tournament.

Elano, 29, suffered the injury in a challenge by Côte d'Ivoire defender Cheik Tiote in Brazil's 3-1 win and limped out of a training session yesterday.

Brazil's team doctor Jose Luiz Runco told reporters: "I'm not saying that he won't be able to play again at this World Cup but he won't be ready for Friday.

"He has bad bruising and it was after he trained on Sunday that he said that he was having problems.

"The bone is swollen and we have to release the pressure on it so he will do nothing strenuous for the rest of the week."

"We still hope he can play next week but I can't say that he will be able to categorically."

Stekelenburg earns his World Cup spurs

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Maarten Stekelenburg has not one but two crosses to bear at the FIFA World Cup™.

He is a member of the latest Netherlands side trying to lift the trophy for the first time and he is also trying to shake off the label of being the goalkeeper who followed in the footsteps of the great Edwin van der Sar.

The 27-year-old Ajax shot-stopper has measured up pretty well so far in South Africa, conceding just two goals, both from penalties, and he has earned high praise from Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.

Van Marwijk was especially impressed by Stekelenburg's performance in the Round of 16 game against Slovakia which the Dutch won 2-1

"Maarten was exceptional, he saved us and allowed us to stay in control at a delicate moment of the match," said Van Marwijk, who will be looking for a similarly assured performance against five-time world champions Brazil in Friday's quarter-final in Port Elizabeth.

Stekelenburg, who replaced Van der Sar after Euro 2008 when the Manchester United number one retired from international football for the second time, had already shown he was made of the right stuff in conceding just two goals in the eight qualifying matches he played in.

However, his place as national number one looked to be in danger 18 months ago when he was dropped at Ajax by former coach Marco van Basten and replaced by the younger Kenneth Vermeer.

"Van Basten told me off for having become complacent," explained Stekelenburg, who stands at an impressive 1.94m. "That stunned me because I couldn't get enough of training, and I was certainly not lazy."

Van Marwijk has always retained confidence in me even when I wasn't first choice at Ajax. His support did me a world of good.

Maarten Stekelenburg, Dutch goalkeeper

However, he bears no malice towards the former AC Milan and Dutch striking great, who went on to coach the Netherlands at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2008.

"That said, I have no bitterness towards what was said at the time. Van Basten was right on one thing: I was not playing well.

However, he has regained the confidence of not only Ajax curent coach Martin Jol but also Van Marwijk.

"Mister Van Marwijk has always retained confidence in me even when I wasn't first choice at Ajax," Stekelenburg added. "His support did me a world of good. And also he has never evoked in front of me or the press how I was the successor to Van der Sar".

However, he is honest enough to admit that there are still sceptics to be won over. Before the Slovakia game he said: "If I commit a blunder, they will say to me 'That ball there, Van der Sar would have saved'."