World Cup Team Profiles: Group F: Paraguay
They enjoyed their best-ever qualifying campaign and boast a potent array of attacking talent. Two reasons why Paraguay enter South Africa with expectations higher than ever before…
Their Golden Generation of 1998 is long gone. However, as they showed in qualification, the Paraguayans are not to be taken lightly. They completely flunked in 2006, though this time they posses more quality throughout the squad, and at [1.62] to qualify from Group F, they are fancied to reach the last 16 for the third time in four attempts.
Nation: Paraguay
Also known as…
‘Los Albirroja’
Route to South Africa…
Never before had Paraguay broken through the 30-point barrier in South American qualification, yet this time, thanks to ten wins, three draws and five defeats they qualified with their best ever tally of 33 points. The total was enough to see them finish third behind Brazil and Chile and fittingly, the win which saw them cross the finishing line was a 1-0 triumph over Argentina.
World Cup Pedigree…
2010 will be their fourth successive World Cup although they’ll be looking to do far better than they did in Germany, when they exited at the group stages. Prior to that though they were making steady progress having made it to the second round in both 1998 and 2002. All in all, the Paraguayans have taken part in seven World Cups to date, although they have never made it as far as the Quarter-Finals, nor have they ever won two matches in the same tournament.
They’ll be relying on…
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz saving his best form for the summer. Due to injury and the competition for places, Santa Cruz hasn’t featured much for his club this season and in turn, he’s struggled to find any sort of rhythm in his game. When on form, he’s a handful. When “on fire”, he’s capable of bullying the best. And Paraguay will need their pin-up to lead from the front if they’re to make any kind of headway in South Africa.
Something you may not have known is…
Former Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert was the most prolific goalscoring goalkeeper of all time until Brazilian Rogerio Ceni eclipsed him in 2006. Set-piece specialist Chilavert scored an amazing 62 goals in his career, including four during his nations’ World Cup Qualifying campaign of 2002. Today he’s involved in the renewable use of seaweed, as well as advising the Paraguayan FA.
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Filed Under: Betfair • Football • World Cup 2010
