TAEJON, South Korea -- Spain cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup here on Wednesday evening, beating a determined but ultimately inferior South African team 3-2.
The result also ended South Africa's World Cup ambitions, Paraguay's 3-1 victory over Slovenia being sufficient to see the South Americans through on a superior goals-scored record.
Spain now moves on to a mouthwatering second-round clash with Ireland in Suwon on Sunday.