PARAGUAY

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Team Profile

After a 12-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, Paraguay returned in France 1998, led by their inspirational shot-stopper, Jose Luis Chilavert. Nearly ten years on, and with the legendary goalkeepernow retired, Chile are familiar faces at world football’s top table, having qualified for three consecutive World Cup appearances. South Africa 2010 would be the fourth consecutive World Cup that Paraguay has qualified for.

Paraguay have always enjoyed a healthy reputation on the South American scene, thanks to their defensive solidity, superb aerial ability and plentiful supply of powerful front-runners. That said, with the exception of Copa America wins in 1953 and 1979, the Albirroja (nickname meaning White and Red given to the team) have struggled to convert these into a World Cup title. Paraguay has never appeared in a World Cup final in its history, nor have they played for a third place finish. Paraguay is hoping that football 2010 will see a change.

This isn’t the only lack of success that they have experienced as Paraguay suffered one of the country’s longest World Cup droughts by failing to qualify for six consecutive World Cup events from 1962 to 1982. Finally qualifying for World Cup 1986 in Mexico, Paraguay was able to make it past the group stages of the tournament only to lose 3-0 to England in the second round.

The turning point would arrive in the late 1990s, coinciding with the emergence of a golden generation of Paraguayan footballers. The likes of Chilavert, Celso Ayala, Carlos Gamarra, Roberto Acuna and Jose Saturnino Cardozo steered the Guaraníes to second place behind Argentina in qualifying for France 1998.

Four years on, on the road to Korea/Japan 2002, Paraguay finished in fourth place, forcing rivals Uruguay into a play-off against Australia, a situation which repeated itself ahead of Germany 2006. However, Paraguay would find luck in short supply on each of their World Cup appearances by failing to make it past the Round of 16 in 1998 and 2001, while failing to make it past Round 1 in Germany 2006

In the wake of that early exit, the Paraguayan Football Association decided to hire Argentinian tactician Gerardo Martino, who boasts an excellent record in Guaraní football, ahead of the qualifiers for South Africa 2010. A positive start to their South Africa 2010 qualifiers can confirm that their preparations have been solid and are ready to compete in this years event.

CONMEBOL Group Stage Standings

Official Site: www.apf.org.py