( CNN ) -- David Villa came to Spain 's rescue again to put the European champions into the World Cup semifinals for the first time with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Johannesburg on Saturday night as both teams missed a penalty . The striker , who scored the only goal in the second-round victory over Portugal , netted the winner with eight minutes to play to become the leading scorer at the South African tournament with five . Spain will now play Germany in Durban on Wednesday for a place in final after the 2006 hosts thrashed Argentina 4-0 earlier on Saturday . It will be a rematch of the Euro 2008 final , which Spain won 1-0 . `` We did n't play well mainly because we did n't get enough of the ball , '' Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told reporters . `` We are now among the four best teams in the world . Our next opponents are Germany , who are the best team at the moment . '' Paraguay , playing in the last eight for the first time , had a goal disallowed in the first half and should have taken the lead in the 59th minute but Oscar Cardozo 's penalty was saved by Spain captain Iker Casillas . Xabi Alonso then had the chance to put the Spaniards ahead soon after but was also denied from the spot after having to retake his successful first attempt . Paraguay , whose coach Gerardo Martino made six changes after the penalty shootout win over Japan in the previous round , easily contained Spain 's renowned attacking prowess in a disappointing first half . `` We had chances but did n't take them . But never mind . I congratulate my players for their progress at the World Cup , '' Martino told reporters . The South Americans felt aggrieved to have a 41st-minute strike by Nelson Valdez ruled out after Cardozo strayed into a marginally offside position , but wasted a glorious chance to go ahead after Spain defender Gerard Pique was booked for dragging on the arm of Cardozo . But the Benfica player , who scored the winner against Japan , saw his shot saved by Casillas -- and then at the other end Villa was hauled down when clear on goal by Antolin Alcaraz , who was lucky not to be sent off . Alonso coolly sent goalkeeper Justo Villar the wrong way , but the Paraguay captain was more successful the second time after Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres ruled that players had encroached into the penalty area before the initial kick was taken . Villar was lucky not to concede another penalty as he clattered into Cesc Fabregas while trying to gather the rebound , but was helpless when Spain finally made the breakthrough . Substitute Pedro fired a low shot onto the base of the woodwork , and Villa followed up with a strike that hit one post and bounced into the net off the other one . Paraguay substitutes Lucas Barrios and Roque Santa Cruz had late efforts blocked in quick succession by Casillas , while Villa was denied a second by Villar . It was another disappointing night for Villa 's strike partner Fernando Torres , who was replaced by Fabregas with 20 minutes to play as he again looked well short of his usual high standards . Paraguay 's defeat leaves neighbors Uruguay as South America 's only representative in the last four , facing the Netherlands on Tuesday .
Spain will play Germany in the World Cup semifinals after beating Paraguay 1 - 0 . Argentine David Villa nets only goal in 82nd minute to go top of overall scoring charts . South Americans had a goal ruled out and then missed a penalty in second half . Spain also missed a penalty soon after before Villa 's fifth goal of the tournament .