By James Whelan, South Korea

JOSE ANTONIO CAMACHO will feel he has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal for Spain’s World Cup second round clash with Ireland after his rebuilt team made it three wins out of three yesterday.

Spain went into their final group B game against South Africa already certain of making the second phase and Camacho took advantage of the situation to make eight changes in his starting line up.

His selection gamble paid off, with two goals from Raul, either side of a Gaizka Mendieta free kick, earning them a 3 2 win that ensured they would go through as group winners and avoid Germany in the second round.

Mendieta enjoyed an excellent return to the starting line up but there were even better displays from some of the other newcomers.

Winger Joaquin caused problems for the South African defence all night and Xavi also impressed from a deep role in front of the defence.

Albert Luque, coming off the bench to replace Fernando Morientes in the second half, had a lively debut and almost scored with his first touch.

“That felt good”, said a beaming Joaquin after playing his first World Cup finals match at the age of 20.

“I just tried to do my job and to enjoy myself. Fortunately it came off well for me.

Joaquin’s position may prove to be one of the toughest selection headaches for Camacho, with Luis Enrique also in fine form on the right side of midfield.

Elsewhere, Camacho will have to decide whether Fernando Morientes deserves to keep his place in the side, with Diego Tristan expected to have recovered from his groin and ankle injuries in time for Sunday.

Ivan Helguera will almost certainly have to make way for team captain Fernando Hierro to return at centre back but Curro Torres may have done just enough on the right side of defence to keep the place vacated by Carles Puyol.

Whether Mendieta suffers more disappointment could be down to the fitness of Javi de Pedro, who was unable to play yesterday because of a thigh strain.

“It was important to play at a good level and for the team to win but I don’t know if I’ll be in the team again on Sunday,” Mendieta said.

Meanwhile, South Africa striker Benni McCarthy said Paraguay did not deserve their place in the second round. Paraguay reached the last 16 by beating Slovenia 3 1 in their final group B match to edge out South Africa on goals scored.

South Africa looked set to qualify alongside Spain for most of the evening but Nelson Cuevas’ 84th minute strike for Paraguay dashed their hopes and left McCarthy a bitter man.

“I think all of us should be a little disappointed because I don’t think Paraguay deserve to be where they are today,” he said. “It was just that luck was against us.”

“We proved today that we should be the team to go into the second round with Spain, but this World Cup has been full of surprises and it’s been cruel to a lot of good teams.

“Undeservedly we’re out as well.”

McCarthy and the other South African players said they were unaware of their fate until they left the pitch.

“When it was 2 2 (in our match) Raul was saying to me that Paraguay were losing,” said McCarthy, who used to play in Spain and speaks Spanish.

“When I came off the pitch some of the Spanish players were saying they thought we were through.

“It was only when I got to the dressing room and they had the Slovenia Paraguay match on the TV, and I saw they (Paraguay) had scored their third goal and I knew it was finished for us.”

“The guys are disappointed but it was unbelievable. We really thought we’d done enough to get through,” he said.

SOUTH AFRICA: Arendse, Nzama, Radebe (Molefe 80), Aaron Mokoena, Carnell, Zuma, Tebeho Mokoena, Sibaya, Fortune (Lekgetho 83), Nomvete (Koumantarakis 74), McCarthy.

SPAIN: Casillas, Curro Torres, Helguera, Nadal, Romero, Joaquin, Albelda (Sergio 53), Xavi, Mendieta, Morientes (Luque 78), Raul (Luis Enrique 82).