Paraguay - World Cup 2006 Team Preview

Curtis Ogawa on the third best team in South America.

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Background

Now that penalty-taking keeper Jose Luis Chilavert has departed from the international scene, Paraguay lacks a recognizable star. That said, the team as a whole may actually be better than those of previous years. Led by Coach Anibal Ruiz, who also took the nation’s U-23 team to the Final of the Olympics in 2004, Paraguay may not be the prettiest side in the World Cup—but they claw to the very end and are always difficult to beat.

The Guaranies are known for turning out solid keepers and strong defenders. And true to form this time around, the back line—Carlos Gamarra, Juan Caceres plus keeper Justo Villar—is solid as always, at times impenetrable.

However, for perhaps the first time, Paraguay also has a front line that will find the net. In particular, Bayern Munich’s Roque Santa Cruz is a talent to be reckoned with. Though on the mend from an injury, he has the explosive speed and smell for goal that mark the great strikers.

Even if he is not 100%, his partner up front Nelson Valdez, who also earns his living in the Bundesliga (at Werder Bremen), can and should score at the World Cup.

Veteran Roberto Acuna, once of Deportivo in Spain, will anchor the midfield along with the Bundesliga-based duo of Julio dos Santos and Edgar Barreto - a fearsome trio of ball-winners crucial to coach's zonal 4-4-2 system. Julio dos Santos is also a potential goal-threat in his own right.

Road to Germany

Paraguay qualified by finishing third in the South America division, behind Brazil and Argentina. Though the results were mixed during the qualifiers, Paraguay drew with Argentina and Brazil and, later, defeated Argentina.

Paraguay vs. Peru 1 - 4
Paraguay vs. Uruguay 4 - 1
Paraguay vs. Ecuador 2 - 1
Paraguay vs. Chile 1 - 0
Paraguay vs. Brazil 0 - 0
Paraguay vs. Bolivia 1 - 2
Paraguay vs. Argentina 0 – 0
Paraguay vs. Venezuela 1 - 0
Paraguay vs. Colombia 1 – 1
Paraguay vs. Peru 1 – 1
Paraguay vs. Uruguay 0 - 1
Paraguay vs. Ecuador 2 - 5
Paraguay vs. Chile 2 – 1
Paraguay vs. Brazil 1 - 4
Paraguay vs. Bolivia 4 – 1
Paraguay vs. Argentina 1 - 0
Paraguay vs. Venezuela 1 – 0
Paraguay vs. Colombia 0 - 1

World Cup Record

1930: 1st Round
1950: 1st Round
1958: 1st Round
1986: 2nd Round
1998: 2nd Round
2002: 2nd Round

Star Player

Fact File

Paraguay Football Association
Founded: 1906
Chairman: Oscar Harrison
Coach: Anibal Ruiz
Official web-site: http://www.apf.org.py
Top clubs: Cerro Porteno, Olimpia

World Cup Squad

Bet on the World Cup

Goalkeepers Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Aldo Bobadilla (Libertad), Derlis Gomez (Sportivo Luqueno)
Defenders Denis Caniza (unattached), Carlos Gamarra (Palmeiras), Julio Cesar Caceres (River Plate), Delio Toledo (Real Zaragoza), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca), Julio Cesar Mansur (Guarani), Jorge Nunez (Estudiantes)
Midfielders Edgar Barreto (NEC Nijmegen), Roberto Acuna (Deportivo La Coruna), Carlos Humberto Paredes (Reggina), Julio Dos Santos (Bayern Munich), Cristian Riveros, Carlos Bonet (both Libertad), Jose Montiel (Olimpia), Diego Gavilan (Newell's Old Boys)
Forwards Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Werder Bremen), Jose Saturnino Cardozo (unattached), Salvador Cabanas (Jaguares), Nelson Cuevas (Pachuca)

Likely Lineup

Goalie: Justo Villar
Defenders: Delio Toledo, Juan Daniel Caceres, Carlos Gamarra, Denis Caniza
Midfielders: Julio dos Santos, Carlos Paredes, Roberto Acuna, Edgar Barreto
Forwards: Nelson Haedo Valdez, Roque Santa Cruz

Flights To Germany
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