For the fist time in its history, Paraguay got a ticket to the World Cup quarterfinals and it aspired to go further in the tournament, its coach Gerardo Martino said on Thursday.

Paraguay edged Japan 5-3 in penalty kick after ending 0-0 in regulation time and extra time in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Martino told Xinhua that the base of his team "has always been the group of players, who are convinced that they can reach further."

"I have always said that the base of our team is the group, what it

transmits, we did a great eliminatory, now in the World Cup we are convinced of what we do and believe that we can reach even further," Martino said.

"Now it is difficult not to be excited, because it comes from the efforts of four years," Martino said.

Paraguay will face Spain for a semifinal berth.

"The match against Spain will be tough, that team has recovered after the stumble against Switzerland and in a short tournament like this, it is always important, but we are ready," Martino said.

Martino added that the South American teams have made the best performance at this World Cup and he said that the surprises have not finished yet.

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