quot;Lucklessquot; Spaniards still struggle

Nigeria8217;s 1-0 win over Bulgaria means the African side have already won the group and left the other three teams scrabbling for second place.

While against Nigeria it was defensive and goalkeeping errors which cost Spain dearly, yesterday it was a lack of creativity in mid-field and punch in attack that were to blame for a disappointing result.

Some of the Spain fans waved white handkerchiefs to express their dissatisfaction with Javier Clemente8217;s side.

In contrast, the Paraguyan fans celebrated 8212; and judgingfrom the reaction of the players who hugged each other on the final whistle 8212; Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani8217;s team seemed content with a point to add to the one they earned against Bulgaria.

quot;Spain came at us with everything. We held out. We had a few rare chances but it was a fair result,quot; Carpeggiani said.

Yet, had Paraguay shown more courage and ambition in the second-half, they could well have pulled off a genuine upset against a Spanish side that looked far from at ease with itself.

Spain came into this tipped as possible winners after an impressive series of qualifying results but their World Cup hopes are rapidly running out.Paraguay made the brighter start to the game but failed to capitalise on early Spanish nerves. In the 12th minute, Jorge Campos broke down the right wing and whipped a low ball across the box, which Aristides Rojas just failed to meet.

Spain8217;s first effort on goal came in the 21st minute when Juan Antonio Pizzi8217;s header was tipped over the bar by Paraguay goalkeeper Jose LuisChilavert.

Paraguay were gradually forced back as the game progressed and relied on little Miguel Benitez for occasional breaks. The pacey Benitez forced a good save out of Zubizarreta in the 35th minute with a fierce drive.

Chilavert was called into action again on the stroke of half-time when he got down quickly to save a close range drive from Raul and the ball was scrambled clear as Pizzi closed in.

Early in the second half, in a bid to liven up his attack and make the crucial breakthrough, Clemente took off Pizzi and brought Francisco Morientes into attack as well as introducing mid-fielder Alberto Celades for defender Abelardo.

In the 56th minute, an excellent cross field ball from Joseba Etxeberria put Luis Enrique clear on the left but his powerful drive was tipped over the bar by Chilavert.

For the last 20 minutes Spain camped in the Paraguay half but failed to create any clear cut chances. Too often, the hesitating Spanish forwards were robbed of possession on the edge of the Paraguayianarea and apart from occasional burst forward from left-back Sergio the Spanish lacked width.