Paraguay national football team

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Paraguay

Nickname(s)

Guaraníes,
La Albirroja (White and red)

Association

Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol

Confederation

CONMEBOL (South America)

Head coach

Gerardo Martino (2007-)

Captain

Denis Caniza

Most caps

Carlos Gamarra (110)

Top scorer

José Saturnino Cardozo (25)

Home stadium

Estadio Defensores del Chaco

FIFA code

PAR

FIFA ranking

Highest FIFA ranking

8 (March 2001)

Lowest FIFA ranking

103 (May 1995)

Elo ranking

Highest Elo ranking

5 (1954)

Lowest Elo ranking

44 (August 1962)





First kit





Second kit

First international

Paraguay 1 - 5 Argentina

(Asunción, Paraguay; 11 March 1919)

Biggest win

Paraguay 7 - 0 Bolivia

(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 30 April 1949)

Biggest defeat

Argentina 8 - 0 Paraguay

(Santiago, Chile; 20 October 1926

World Cup

Appearances

7 (First in 1930)

Best result

Round 2, 1986, 1998, 2002

Copa América

Appearances

32 (First in 1921)

Best result

Winners, 1953 and 1979

Men's Football
Olympic medal record
Silver	2004 Athens	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.

[edit] History

[edit] The beginning (1900-1930)

Soon after the introduction of football in Paraguay by Williams Paats, the Liga Paraguaya de Futbol (today Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol) was created in 1906. The first national football team was organized in 1910 when an invitation by the Argentine club Hércules of Corrientes was received to play a friendly match. Members of that first nationall team where F. Melián, G. Almeida, A. Rodríguez, M. Barrios, P. Samaniego, J. Morín, Z. Gadea, D. Andreani, C. Mena Porta, B. Villamayor, M. Rojas and E. Erico. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.^[1]

Because of the increasing number of invitations to play matches and international tournaments, the Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol decided to officially create the national team and select the striped red and white jerseys that until this date remain as the official colours (taken from the Paraguayan flag). In late 1919 Paraguay accepted the invitation to play the 1921 Copa America and in order to prepare for that occasion a number of friendly matches were played between 1919 and the start of the tournament in 1921. The first of those friendly matches was a 5-1 loss against Argentina, and it marked the first international game by the Paraguayan national football team. When the 1921 Copa America finally arrived, Paraguay surprised everybody by beating then three-time South American champions Uruguay by 2-1, being this the first match in an official competition for the Paraguayan football team. Paraguay eventually finished fourth in the tournament and became a regular participant of the tournament for the next editions.

In 1930 Paraguay participated in the first World Cup, organized by Uruguay. In the first round, Paraguay debuted and lost to the United States (0-3), to then defeat Belgium (1-0) with a goal by Luis Vargas Peña. Only one team was to advance from the group stage, and the U.S. left Paraguay behind.

[edit] First taste of success (1930-1970)

After good participations in the Copa America tournaments of 1929, 1947 and 1949 (where Paraguay finished in second place), Paraguay was ready for their next World Cup competition.

The return to the World Cup was in 1950, where Paraguay faced Sweden and Italy in Group 3. Paraguay failed to advance to the next round after a 2-2 draw against Sweden and a 2-0 loss against Italy.

The first big success came in 1953 when Paraguay won the Copa America disputed in Peru. In their road to the championship, Paraguay defeated Chile (3-0), Bolivia (2-1) and Brazil (2-1); and tied against Ecuador (0-0), Peru (2-2) and Uruguay (2-2). Since Paraguay and Brazil were tied in points at the end of the tournament, a final playoff match was played between them, with Paraguay winning the final by 3-2. Key players of the campaign included Angel Berni, Heriberto Herrera and Ruben Fernandez. The coach was Manuel Fleitas Solich.^[2]

For the 1958 World Cup, Paraguay surprisingly qualified ahead of Uruguay (beating them 5-0 in the decisive game) 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.

[edit] More continental success (1970-1990)

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) in 1979 shored up Paraguay as a solid player on the continent.

The 1979 Copa América was won by Paraguay after finishing first in Group C (which had Uruguay and Ecuador as well) with two wins and two draws. In the semi-finals Paraguay defeated Brazil by an aggregate score of 4-3. In the finals, Paraguay defeated Chile by an aggregate score of 3-1 to claim its second continental crown. Players such as Julio Cesar Romero (Romerito), Carlos Alberto Kiese, Alicio Solalinde, Roberto Paredes, Hugo Ricardo Talavera and Eugenio Morel where an important part of the team, coached by Ranulfo Miranda.^[3]

Paraguay ended a 28-year absence from the World Cup in 1986 with a team starring Roberto "Gato" Fernandez in goal; Cesar Zavala, Rogelio Delgado and Juan Bautista Torales in defense; Jorge Amado Nunes and Vladimiro Chetinna in midfield; midfield playmaker Romerito and strikers Roberto Cabañas, Ramon Angel Maria Hicks and Rolando Chilavert (older brother of Jose Luis Chilavert). In first round matches, Paraguay defeated Iraq (1-0, goal Romerito) and then tied Mexico (1-1, goal Romerito) and Belgium (2-2, both goals Roberto Cabañas). They reached the second round where they were beaten 3-0 by England. ^[4]

[edit] The golden generation (1990-2006)

A drought followed once again, as Paraguay failed to reach the Italy 1990 and U.S. 1994 World Cups.

In 1992, Paraguay won the South American Pre-Olympic tournament, which guaranteed a spot in the 1992 Summer Olympics football competition. In the Olympics, Paraguay finished second in its group and were eliminated by Ghana in the quarterfinals. The most important aspect of that Paraguay team was the emergence of new young players like Carlos Gamarra, Celso Ayala, Jose Luis Chilavert, Francisco Arce and Jose Cardozo, which became part of the "golden generation" that led Paraguay to three straight World Cups and good performances in continental competitions, establishing Paraguay as one of the top teams in South America along Brazil and Argentina.

This new generation of players helped end the World Cup drought in grand fashion, as the Albirroja reached the France 1998 World Cup by qualifying in second place in South America behind Argentina. The first round matches were against Bulgaria (0-0), Spain (0-0), and Nigeria (3-1; goals Celso Ayala, Miguel Angel Benitez and Jose Cardozo). Paraguay qualified to the second round (Round of 16) to be defeated in a thrilling match against would-be World Champions France. France only scored through Laurent Blanc in the 114th minute, during the second half of overtime (making it the first golden goal scored in a World Cup). Paraguay's central defending duo (Carlos Gamarra and Celso Ayala) and goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert were selected for the all-star World Cup team.

Paraguay returned to the World’s greatest stage once more in the 2002 World Cup. In their first match, Paraguay tied South Africa 2-2 (goals: Roque Santa Cruz and Francisco Arce). Paraguay lost to Spain in the second game (1-3) and finally defeated Slovenia (3-1; goals Nelson Cuevas, twice, and Jorge Luis Campos) to qualify for the second round. Germany ended Paraguay’s dreams in the World Cup with an 88 minute goal.

In 2006, Paraguay qualified for its third World Cup in a row. This time, two early defeats against England and Sweden (both 0-1) sent the team home early. The only consolation was defeating Trinidad and Tobago during the last and final group game by 2-0.

[edit] The present

After the 2006 World Cup, Anibal Ruiz resigned as head coach and Raul Vicente Amarilla was assigned as the interim coach. In 2007, Argentine Gerardo "Tata" Martino was designated as head-coach. The former Newell's Old Boys (Rosario, Argentina) skipper's coaching career had blossomed in Paraguay where he formerly coached Libertad and Cerro Porteño. He was a clear and logical choice for the Paraguayan FA.

Paraguay's current squad is undergoing a transition because of the retirement of key players such as Carlos Gamarra, Francisco Arce , Celso Ayala, and goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Paraguay's under-19 side won the Milk Cup in 2002, 2003 and 2006, and players such as Nelson Valdez, Julio Dos Santos, José Montiel and Oscar Cardozo are thought key to the re-building of the team.

Currently the squad coached by Gerardo "Tata" Martino is leading the standings in the qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

The usual starting line-up during the qualifiers has been with: Justo Villar at goal; Roberto Bonet or Denis Caniza on the right, Da Silva and Julio Caceres in the middle, Claudio Morel on the left. In the midfield, "Topo" Caceres and Christian Riveros have been playing in the center, while Barreto and Jonathan Santana play on the outsides. Up front, it has been Salvador Cabañas, Roque Santa Cruz alternating with Cardozo and Nelson Haedo Valdez. Carlos Humberto Paredes is expected to return to the starting line-up in midfield in June.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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
2007 - Quarterfinals

[edit] Pan American Games record

1951 - Fifth place
1955 to 1983 - Did not compete
1987 - Round 1
1991 - Did not compete
1995 - Quarterfinals
1999 - Did not compete
2003 - Round 1

[edit] Most Paraguay caps

Player	Paraguay career	Caps (Goals)
Carlos Gamarra	1993-2006	110 (12)
Roberto Acuña	1993-2006	97 (5)
Celso Ayala	1993-2003	85 (6)
José Saturnino Cardozo	1991-2006	82 (25)
Denis Caniza	1996-2006	79 (1)
Roberto Fernández	1976-1989	78 (0)
Juan Bautista Torales	1979-1989	77 (1)
José Luis Chilavert	1989-2003	74 (8)
Estanislao Struway	1991-2002	74 (4)
Carlos Humberto Paredes	1998-present	72 (10)
Julio César Enciso	1995-2004	70 (2)

[edit] Top Paraguay goalscorers

Player	Paraguay career	Goals (Caps)
José Saturnino Cardozo	1991-2006	25 (82)
Roque Santa Cruz	1999-present	16 (50)
Saturnino Arrúa	1969-1980	13 (26)
Julio César Romero	1979-1986	13 (32)
Gerardo Rivas	1921-1926	12 (32)
Carlos Gamarra	1993-2006	12 (110)
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 (72)

[edit] Famous players

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (May 2008)

[edit] Notable coaches

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (May 2008)

[edit] Current team status

Paraguay is currently participating in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and after four rounds of competition sits in first place with three wins and one draw.

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)

[edit] Last and next games

Last game: France 0 - 0 Paraguay - Toulouse, France - 31 May 2008 (Friendly)
Next game: Paraguay - Brazil - Asuncion, Paraguay - 14 June 2008. (FIFA World Cup 2010)

[edit] Current squad

The following players were called for the friendly match against France on May 31, 2008.

Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club
GK	Justo Villar	30 June 1977	53	0	Newell's Old Boys
GK	Aldo Bobadilla	20 April 1976	15	0	Independiente Medellín
DF	Pedro Benítez	23 March 1981			Libertad
DF	Julio Manzur	22 June 1981	23	0	Pachuca
DF	Paulo da Silva	1 February 1980	53	3	Toluca
DF	Jorge Núñez	22 January 1978	22	1	Cerro Porteño
DF	Denis Caniza	29 August 1974	84	0	Cruz Azul
DF	Aureliano Torres	16 June 1982	16	1	San Lorenzo
DF	Darío Verón	26 July 1979	17	0	UNAM
MF	Víctor Cáceres	25 March 1985	12	0	Libertad
MF	Jonathan Santana	19 October 1981	10	0	VfL Wolfsburg
MF	Sergio Aquino	21 September 1979	4	0	Libertad
MF	Carlos Paredes	16 July 1976	74	10	Olimpia
MF	Edgar Barreto	15 July 1984	34	2	Reggina
FW	Roque Santa Cruz	16 August 1981	59	18	Blackburn Rovers
FW	Nelson Haedo Valdez	28 November 1983	22	6	Borussia Dortmund
FW	Dante López	16 August 1983	20	3	Libertad
FW	Oscar Cardozo	20 May 1983	15	2	S.L. Benfica
FW	Marcelo Estigarribia	21 September 1987	3	0	Cerro Porteño

[edit] Recent Call Ups

The following players have also been called up to the Paraguay squad in 2008.

Goalkeepers

Name	Date of birth	Club	Caps (goals)	Most Recent Call up
Derlis Gomez	November 2, 1972	Nacional	8 (0)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Horacio González	July 2, 1973	Libertad	? (?)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008

Defenders

Name	Date of birth	Club	Caps (goals)	Most Recent Call up
Edgar Balbuena	November 20, 1980	Libertad	? (?)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Claudio Morel Rodríguez	February 2, 1978	Boca Juniors	11 (0)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Delio Toledo	October 2, 1976	Kayserispor	? (?)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Reinaldo Román	March 23, 1984	Sportivo Luqueño	1 (0)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Marcos Cáceres	May 5, 1986	Racing Club	? (?)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008
Enrique Meza	November 28, 1985	Nacional	1 (0)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008

Midfielders

Name	Date of birth	Club	Caps (goals)	Most Recent Call up
Jorge Brítez	February 8, 1981	Cerro Porteño	? (?)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Luis Cáceres	April 16, 1988	Cerro Porteño	2 (0)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Edgar Daniel González	April 10, 1979	Estudiantes	14 (0)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Osvaldo Martínez	April 8, 1986	Libertad	2 (0)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Carlos Bonet	October 2, 1977	Cruz Azul	46 (1)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Rodrigo Burgos	June 21, 1989	Cerro Porteño	1 (0)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Cristian Riveros	October 16, 1982	Cruz Azul	19 (1)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008

Strikers

Name	Date of birth	Club	Caps (goals)	Most Recent Call up
Julio Aguilar	July 1, 1986	12 de Octubre	1 (0)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Fabio Escobar	February 15, 1982	Nacional	? (?)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Cristian Bogado	January 7, 1987	Estudiantes	? (?)	v. Japan, 27 May 2008
Jorge Achucarro	October 2, 1977	Atlas	? (?)	v. South Africa, 26 March 2008
Nelson Romero	November 18, 1984	Libertad	? (?)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008
Pablo Zeballos	March 4, 1986	Cruz Azul	1 (0)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008
Manuel Maciel	February 12, 1984	Toluca	1 (0)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008
Luis Paéz	December 19, 1989	Sporting	0 (0)	v. Honduras, 6 February 2008

No.	Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club
5	DF	Julio César Cáceres (C)	5 October 1979	38	2	Boca Juniors
7	FW	Salvador Cabañas	5 August 1980	30	5	América
10	MF	Julio dos Santos	5 May 1983	23	5	Bayern Munich ^[5]
12	GK	Joel Zayas	17 September 1977	0	0	Guaraní
13	MF	Domingo Salcedo	9 November 1983	6	0	Colo Colo
20	DF	Enrique Vera	March 10, 1979	4	0	LDU Quito
21	FW	Nelson Cuevas	10 January 1980	41	6	Libertad

[edit] References

^ (Spanish) http://www.albirroja.com/history/history2.html
^ Southamerican Championship 1953
^ Copa América 1979
^ (Spanish) http://www.albirroja.com/history/history6.html
^ Julio dos Santos: On loan at UD Almería.

[edit] External links

[edit] Titles

Preceded by 1949 Brazil	South American Champions 1953 (First title)	Succeeded by 1955 Argentina
Preceded by 1967 Peru	South American Champions 1979 (Second title)	Succeeded by 1983 Uruguay