On Saturday night Spain will be hoping to take one more step closer to their first World Cup title when they face Paraguay at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, kick-off at 20:30 hours (local time). Fernando Torres and his teammates will be looking to emulate the Spain team from 1950. Sixty years ago the Red Fury made it through the semi-finals of the 1950 World Cup held in Brazil. Spain went on to finish fourth behind Uruguay, Brazil and Sweden.

The last-eight clash will be Torres’ first experience of a World Cup quarter-final. Four years ago in Germany, Spain lost to France, who themselves lost in the final to Italy.

The reigning European Champions bounced back from their opening day defeat to Switzerland to beat Honduras (2-0), and Chile (2-1) in their final two group games. The table-topping Spanish then defeated Portugal (1-0) in the last sixteen to set up a meeting with Paraguay.

According to manager Vicente Del Bosque Fernando Torres will lead the Spain attack. “If he’s available, Fernando Torres will face Paraguay. I'm sure of it. If he’s fit, Torres will play.”

Paraguay have been very solid at the back throughout the tournament, conceding just the one goal in the four games played so far. The goal was scored by Italy during the first match of the group stages. After drawing with the Italians, Paraguay went onto finish top of Group F above Slovakia , New Zealand and Italy.

In round two Gerardo Martino’s team squeezed past Japan after a penalty shoot-out win (5-3). The game was scoreless between the South Americans and Asians after 90 minutes, remaining scoreless at the end of extra-time. Cardozo sent Paraguay through with his team’s fifth spot-kick after Komano had missed for Japan.

Spain and Paraguay have met previously at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. The teams drew 0-0 at the World Cup in France, a result which sent the Red Fury home at the group stages. Four years on Spain avenged their draw, beating the South Americans 3-1 before losing out to hosts South Korea in the last eight.