These four sides occupy one side of the draw, which means the two winners will face off in the semi-final for the right to a spot in the final at Soccer City.
Following Brazil’s World Cup exit, the Spaniards are now the firm tournament favourites but they’ll have to get past Paraguay first and then one of the dangerous duo of Germany & Argentina.
These are the probable line-ups for Saturday’s early game (4pm CET in Cape Town);
Germany 1 Manuel Neuer – 16 Philipp Lahm, 17 Per Mertesacker, 3 Arne Friedrich, 20 Jerome Boateng – 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger, 6 Sami Khedira – 13 Thomas Mueller, 8 Mesut Oezil, 10 Lukas Podolski – 11 Miroslav Klose
*Unavailable’ – ‘‘Cacau (injury)’’Key man– ‘‘Bastian Schweinsteiger, under-rated influence on Germany’s youthful midfield. Steady hand.’’Argentina'’22 Sergio Romero – 15 Nicolas Otamendi, 2 Martin Demichelis, 4 Nicolas Burdisso, 6 Gabriel Heinze – 8 Juan Sebastian Veron, 14 Javier Mascherano, 17 Jonas Gutierrez – 10 Lionel Messi – 9 Gonzalo Higuain, 11 Carlos Tevez’’Unavailable– ‘‘full strength’’*Key man’’’ – ‘‘Lionel Messi, it’s unbelievable he’s yet to score in South Africa, but it’s sure his wizardry will strike soon.
This match-up promises goals. Germany’s creative, energetic and youthful midfield will be hard to stop, while Argentina’s trio of wonderful attackers loom as big dangers too.
Argentina’s defence hasn’t really been tested yet, but Die Mannschaft boss Joachim Loew will approach this contest with caution. We’ll expect a high-scoring game but we’ll wait and see what we get.
Elsewhere, Euro 2008 winners Spain take on the unlikely quarter-finalists from Paraguay, with the Spanish heavy favourites.
These are the probable line-ups for Saturday’s late kick-off (7.30pm CET in Johannesburg);
Paraguay 1 Justo Villar – 6 Carlos Bonet, 14 Paulo da Silva, 21 Antolin Alcaraz, 3 Claudio Morel Rodriguez – 13 Enrique Vera, 20 Nestor Ortigoza, 16 Cristian Riveros – 9 Roque Santa Cruz, 19 Lucas Barrios, 10 Edgar Benitez
*Unavailable’ – ‘‘Aureliano Torres (injury)’’Key man– ‘‘Roque Santa Cruz, precocious talent who could be the clinical frontman the Paraguayans need if chances are limited.’’Spain'’1 Iker Casillas – 15 Sergio Ramos, 3 Gerard Pique, 5 Carles Puyol, 11 Joan Capdevila – 16 Sergi Busquets – 8 Xavi, 14 Xabi Alonso – 6 Andres Iniesta, 7 David Villa – 9 Fernando Torres’’Unavailable– ‘‘Raul Albiol (injury)’’*Key man’’’ – ‘‘Xabi Alonso, massive in the quarter-final win over Portugal, the hard-working midfielder never stops.
Spain should boss this game with their brilliant midfield control the majority of the play. Paraguay will be left with scraps, but as Switzerland showed when they defeated La Roja in the opening game, playing on the counter can work.
Nevertheless, you’ve got to expect Spain to win with David Villa firing, while for their World Cup title aspirations they’ll hope Fernando Torres can find some touch.