Penalties.

The 2010 World Cup has just seen its first penalty shoot-out. With the score still stubbornly at 0-0 after extra time Paraguay have beaten Japan 5-4 on penalties.

I didn't actually get to watch the first half but by the sounds of things I didn't miss much. Both teams were clearly playing under the instructions not to go a goal down before halftime. Paraguay were also making very sure not to give away any free kicks on the edges of the penalty area in order to avoid giving Japan's free kick ninjas even a hint of a chance.

Midway through the second half Japan actually started playing something approaching football but it was too little too late. After that tiredness began to take hold and even before the end of normal time the game looked like it was either going to go to penalties or carry on until everyone died of old age. In the penalty shoot-out Paraguay got lucky where Japan's Komano didn't.

On the basis of the game Japan should feel unlucky be to out but that's always the risk of playing for the draw.

Paraguay now go on to play the winner of tonight's game between Spain and Portugal in the quarter final. With the talent on both sides the Spain V Portugal could be a classic but it is a local derby so could be really tense. I wouldn't even like to hazard a guess as what might happen.