Seven heaven: David Villa (left) was the difference as Spain beat Paraguay in dramatic fashion

It took two penalties and several rattles of the woodwork to separate Spain and Paraguay on Saturday night, but eventually Europe continued its quarter-final eclipse of Latin America when David Villa scored an 85th minute winner to usher his side into their first World Cup semi-final in 60 years, and himself one goal closer to the Golden Boot.

Villa’s goal ended the stubborn resistance of a Paraguayan side who effectively stifled the European Champions passing game, and broke a stalemate that had survived two penalties, both missed in a remarkable two second-half minutes.

After Oscar Cardozo's spot-kick for Paraguay was saved Xabi Alonso was also denied, but only after scoring with a first spot-kick that Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres ordered re-taken.

Even Spain’s winner appeared reluctant to go in. After a searing run that took out tow defender Andres Iniesta played in substitute Pedro, whose shot crashed against the left hand post. It fell to Villa who curled it against the right-hand upright and watched as it rolled along the goal line before finally cannoning in off the other post.

The goal was his fifth of the tournament and sets up a repeat of the Euro 2008 final against Germany, the game in which Spain cast off their mantle of world football’s great underachievers.

Their campaign to match West Germany and France by adding the world title got off to a faltering start in South Africa with defeat in the opening game to Switzerland, but inspired by Villa, now one goal from matching Raul’s all-time Spanish record, they have gathered momentum and Vincent Del Bosque named an unchanged side.

Paraguay have managed just three goals between them here and coach Gerardo Martino axed six of the side that stumbled past Japan on penalties.

Strikers Roque Santa Cruz and Edgar Benitez were both dropped having failed to score in four games, and replaced by Nelson Valdez of Borussia Dortmund and Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo.

If Martino was relying on that pair to sneak a goal his overwhelming concern was to disrupt the works of the Spanish midfield carousel. Martino’s spanners were Cristian Riveiros and Victor Cacereres, scurrying to disrupt Xavi, Iniesta and Xabi Alonso in front of a parsimonious back-four that has conceded just once in the tournament.

It proved effective in the opening stages as a lackluster Spain struggled to find their fluidity that had seen them waltz past two previous Latin American opponents already in South Africa.

Direct, aggressive and committed, La Albirroja were a different proposition to Honduras and the ultra-attacking Chile, and they fashioned a chance almost immediately, Jonathan Santana seizing on a knock-down to shoot straight at Iker Casillas from the edge of the box in the opening minute

Villa flickered intermittently, Fernando Torres continued to disappoint and was withdrawn close to the hour, and Xavi and Iniesta both squandered possession. There was only one glimpse of danger for Paraguay when Xavi’s volley on the turn from the edge of the box flew over Justo Villar’s crossbar.

Five minutes from the interval Spain almost paid dearly for their torpor.

Edgar Barreto’s free-kick from the right landed at the feet of Valdez who crashed past Casillas from six yards, only to see the flag raised after Cardozo, who did not get a touch on the ball, was given marginally offside.

Cardozo’s night did not improve when he missed the first of two penalties, one re-taken, traded by the sides in the space of two remarkable second-half minutes. The Benfica man was hauled down by Gerard Pique at a Paraguay corner, but after a long pause his spot-kick was well saved by Casillas diving to his right.

Momments later Villa was released in the Paraguay box and appeared to have escaped from Alcaraz before being bundled to the ground by the defender.

Batres did not hesitate to award a second spot-kick just 2m 3secs after the first, and Xabi Alonso’s kick low to Villar’s right appeared emphatic.

Not according to Batres, who ordered it re-taken after Spanish players encroached.

This time Alonso went right but so did Villar, saving smartly, though his attempt to prevent Fabregas scoring from the rebound ought to have brought a third penalty as the Arsenal player was felled.