World Cup 2010: Paraguay v Japan and Spain v Portugal in pictures

History is going to made in Pretoria today. Though it'll be nowhere near as momentous as Nelson Mandela's Presidential inauguration in this city in 1994, it will be the first time either Paraguay or Japan have made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It's not just Japan's strangely attired fans who are being photographed today – the national team also find themselves staring down a multitude of camera lenses. Including one belonging to an interloper, seen on the right of this frame, who somehow seems to have blagged his way into the ranks of the professional photographers using the sort of camera that parents normally use to take pics of little Jonny blowing out the candles on his birthday cake. Wonder if he's related to Pavlos Joseph?
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

A message for the Japanese Maradona, Keisuke Honda
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

But Honda can't run anywhere when he finds himself the meat in a Paraguayan sandwich
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It's a close shave for Justo Villar in the Paraguay goal as he fumbles a shot
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Everybody make some noise
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

... there's not going to be much noise coming from that corner of the ground, though
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Carlos Bonet winces after getting fouled
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

There's a melee in the Japanese penalty area as Paraguay attack at a corner
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Nelson Valdez is tackled by Yuichi Komano
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

An exhausted Tulio Tanaka collapses to the floor after extra-time. A goalless 120 minutes mean that it's the first game in the tournament to go to penalties. Lets hope Tulio's not one of Japan's nominated penalty takers ...
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

A devastated Komano can only hold his head after his penalty hits the crossbar and goes over. Unless Paraguay miss or Eiji Kawashima saves one, he's in danger of being known as the Japanese Chris Waddle
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

It's a desperate time for the Japan fans
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Kawashima, who made a few good saves during the match, gets beaten again during the penalty shoot-out
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Japan's players kneel and pray as Oscar Cardozo steps up to take Paraguay's final penalty
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

... Their prayers go unanswered as Cardoza strokes his penalty calmly into the bottom left corner and Paraguay are in the quarter finals. Their chances of progressing even further are open to debate, as they will face either Spain or Portugal in Johannesburg on Saturday
Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

At the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, Iberian foes Spain and Portugal are keen to assert their supremacy. Here, Spain's Andres Iniesta is harried by Portugal's Pepe, Fabio Coentrao and Raul Meireles
Photograph: Helmut Fohringer/EPA

Gerard Pique of Spain rises behind Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho as Carlos Puyol watches helplessly
Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Ouch! That's no way to treat a show pony
Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Off to the dentist tomorrow, then
Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA

Chances come and go for Portugal. Here, Iker Casillas desperately palms the ball clear after fumbling an initial drive from Tiago
Photograph: Mike Hewitt - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

Casillas is again exposed, this time by a deflected cross, which bounces inches wide of the far post
Photograph: Helmut Fohringer/EPA

David Villa brings the ball under control during another accomplished display by the Spaniard
Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

And it's his goal in the 63rd minute which gives Spain the lead. Villa's initial strike was saved but he stabbed the rebound over Eduardo, the Portuguese keeper, and in off the bar. The build up play between Iniesta and Xavi was delightful: Xavi's back-heel to Villa from the edge of the box ultimately provided the shooting opportunity
Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo looks desperate as Portugal struggle to create an equaliser
Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images

A late red card for Ricardo Costa reduces Portugal to 10 men. It seems harsh at first, but replays show Costa flinging an elbow in the direction of Joan Capdevila
Photograph: Quinn Rooney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

The game is up - Spain are through, and deservedly so. Xavi celebrates with Fernando Llorente. The European champions are still on course to lift the World Cup

Click here to check out all our galleries from the World Cup
Photograph: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images