Paraguay national football team

The Paraguay national football team is the national team of Paraguay and is controlled by the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol.The Paraguay national football team has reached the second round of the World Cup on three occasions (in 1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage. Paraguay's only major tournament victories have come in the Copa América, in which they triumphed in 1953 and 1979. They also won a silver medal in the football tournament at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, being defeated 1-0 by Argentina in the final. It was the first Olympic medal Paraguay ever won in any sport.

Paraguay's current squad is more well-known for its defensive skill than its ability to score goals, with players such as Denis Caniza and captain Carlos Gamarra being amongst its most prominent members. However, the future of this strategy looks questionable due to the recent international retirement of defenders Francisco Arce and Celso Ayala, and that of world-famous goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Several key players are now in the latter stages of their career, so Paraguay will be looking to harness talent amongst the younger generation if they are to maintain the increase in status they have achieved over the past decade. There is optimism that this can occur, as Paraguay's under-19 side won the Milk Cup in both 2002 and 2003.

History

Paraguay participated in the first World Cup in 1930 and also appeared in the 1950 tournament, failing to advance to the next round. Throughout their history they have proven to be a competitive force in South American football as two Copa América wins and a silver medal at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games attest.

Paraguay surprisingly qualified ahead of Uruguay (beating them 5-0 in the decisive game) for the 1958 World Cup with a team that contained a formidable attacking lineup with stars such as Juan Aguero, Jose Parodi, Juan Romero, Cayetano Ré and Florencio Amarilla. In their first game in Sweden, Paraguay were 3-2 up against France in a game they lost 7-3. A 3-2 win over Scotland and a 3-3 draw with Yugoslavia saw Paraguay finish third in their group.

The departure of several of their stars for European football (mainly Spain) resulted in a weakening of Paraguay's football fortunes somewhat, but they were only edged out by Mexico in the 1962 qualifiers. Paraguay fell short in subsequent World Cup qualifying campaigns, but Copa América success (and that of one of its premier clubs Olimpia in the Copa Libertadores) sured up Paraguay as a solid player on the continent.

Paraguay ended a 28-year absence from the World Cup in 1986 with a team starring midfield playmaker Romerito. They reached the second round where they were beaten 3-0 by England. Since then Paraguay have qualified for three successive World Cups and established a reputation as a defensively obdurate team.

World Cup record

1930 - Round 1
1934 - Did not enter
1938 - Did not enter
1950 - Round 1
1954 - Did not qualify
1958 - Round 1
1962 to 1982 - Did not qualify
1986 - Round 2
1990 - Did not qualify
1994 - Did not qualify
1998 - Round 2
2002 - Round 2
2006 - Round 1

Copa América record

1916 to 1920 - Did not enter
1921 - Fourth place
1922 - Runners-up
1923 - Third place
1924 - Third place
1925 - Third place
1926 - Fourth place
1927 - Withdrew
1929 - Runners-up
1935 - Withdrew
1937 - Fourth place
1939 - Third place
1941 - Withdrew
1942 - Fourth place
1945 - Withdrew
1946 - Third place
1947 - Runners-up
1949 - Runners-up
1953 - Winners

1955 - Fifth place
1956 - Fifth place
1957 - Withdrew
1959 - Third place
1959 - Fifth place
1963 - Runners-up
1967 - Fourth place
1975 - Round 1
1979 - Winners
1983 - Semifinals
1987 - Round 1
1989 - Fourth place
1991 - Round 1
1993 - Quarterfinals
1995 - Quarterfinals
1997 - Quarterfinals
1999 - Quarterfinals
2001 - Round 1
2004 - Quarterfinals

Most Paraguay caps

Player	Paraguay career	Caps (Goals)
Carlos Gamarra	1993-2006	109 (12)
Roberto Acuña	1993-2006	96 (5)
Celso Ayala	1993-2003	85 (6)
José Saturnino Cardozo	1991-present	82 (25)
Roberto Fernández	1976-1989	78 (0)
Juan Bautista Torales	1979-1989	77 (1)
Denis Caniza	1996-2006	77 (1)
José Luis Chilavert	1989-2003	74 (8)
Estanislao Struway	1991-2002	74 (4)
Carlos Humberto Paredes	1998-present	71 (10)
Julio César Enciso	1995-2004	70 (2)

Top Paraguay goalscorers

Player	Paraguay career	Goals (Caps)
José Saturnino Cardozo	1991-present	25 (82)
Saturnino Arrúa	1969-1980	13 (26)
Julio César Romero	1979-1986	13 (32)
Roque Santa Cruz	1999-present	13 (45)
Gerardo Rivas	1921-1926	12 (32)
Carlos Gamarra	1993-present	12 (109)
Miguel Angel Benítez	1996-1999	11 (29)
Juan Bautista Villalba	1945-1947	10 (22)
Aurelio González	1924-1937	10 (23)
Carlos Humberto Paredes	1998-present	10 (71)

Famous players

2006 World Cup Squad

Newell's Old Boys}} Estudiantes de La Plata}} Real Zaragoza}} Palmeiras}} River Plate}} Libertad}} Jaguares}} NEC Nijmegen}} Bayern München}} Deportivo de La Coruña}} Newell's Old Boys}} Sportivo Luqueño}}

Club Toluca}} Santos}} Libertad}} Udinese}} Borussia Dortmund}} Bayern München}} Genoa C.F.C.}} Cruz Azul}} Boca Juniors}} Pachuca}}

José Cardozo was named in the original squad, but got injured during training sessions. He was replaced by Dante López. ^*

2006 World Cup Information

Paraguay lost their first game of group B to England. The final score was 1-0 after David Beckham's free-kick was turned in by the Paraguay defender, Carlos Gamarra after 2 minutes and 44 seconds.

Paraguay lost their second game of group B and as a result are now out of the world cup. They conceded to Sweden in the last moments of the game losing 1-0. The goal came from Arsenal winger Fredrik Ljungberg. Paraguay's final game of the world cup will be against Trinidad and Tobago on the 20th of June in Kaiserslauten.

Paraguay got their first win of the tournament by defeating Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in the third game of group B, played in Kaiserslautern. The goals were scored by Sancho (T&T own goal) at the 25th minute, and Nelson Cuevas at the 86th minute. Despite the win, Paraguay failed to qualify for the third consecutive time to the second round.

External links

Football in Paraguay | South American national football teams

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