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.
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 and José Montiel are thought key to the re-building of a team.
Paraguay are in Group C for the Copa América 2007, against Colombia, USA and Argentina.

Contents

History

World Cup record

Copa América record

Pan American Games record

Most Paraguay caps

Top Paraguay goalscorers

Famous players

Notable Coaches

Current Squad

References

External links

Titles

History

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 US left Paraguay behind. Paraguay then returned to the World Cup in 1950 (at Brazil), 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 (1953 and 1979) 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) shored 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 Roberto "Gato" Fernandez in goal; Cesar Zavala, Rogelio Delgado and Juan Bautista Torales in defense; Jorge Amado Nunez and Vladimiro Chetinna in midfield; midfield playmaker Romerito and strikers Roberto Cabañas, Ramon Angel Maria Hicks and Rolando Marciano 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.
A drought followed once again, as Paraguay failed to reach the Italy 1990 and USA 1994 World Cups. This drought ended, however, in grand fashion as the Albirroja reached the France 1998 World Cup by qualifying second in South America. The first round matches were against Bulgaria (0-0), Spain (0-0), and Nigeria (3-1; goals Celso Ayala, Miguel 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 Blanc in minute 114 , 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 2002. This time, the nation had to set their alarm clocks to wake them up in the middle of the night as the tournament was played in Korea and Japan. In their first match, Paraguay tied South Africa 2-2 (goals: Roque Santa Cruz and Francisco “Chiqui” Arce). Paraguay lost to Spain in the second game (1-3) and finally defeated Slovenia (3-1; goals Nelson Cuevas, twice, and Jorge Campos) to qualify for the second round. Germany ended Paraguay’s dreams there 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. After the World Cup, Anibal Ruiz resigned as head coach, and was replaced by Raul Vicente Amarilla. Currently Paraguay is being coached by Gerardo "Tata" Martino.

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 ★ 2007 - Quarterfinals

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

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)

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)

Famous players

★ Francisco Arce

★ Roberto Miguel Acuña

★ Saturnino Arrúa

★ Celso Ayala

★ Roberto Cabañas

★ José Saturnino Cardozo

★ José Luis Chilavert

★ Arsenio Erico

★ Roberto Fernández

★ Carlos Gamarra

★ Nelson Haedo Valdez

★ Aurelio González

★ Carlos Humberto Paredes

★ Romerito

★ Roque Santa Cruz

★ Juan Bautista Villalba

Notable Coaches

★ Aurelio González

★ Manuel Fleitas Solich

★ Ranulfo Miranda

★ Ladislao Kubala

★ Paulo César Carpegiani

Current Squad

The following players have been named to participate in the 2007 Copa America.

References

External links

★ Official site of the Paraguayan Football Association

★ RSSSF archive of results 1919-2004

★ RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers

★ Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup

★ Planet World Cup archive of squads in the World Cup

★ Planet World Cup archive of results in the World Cup qualifiers

★ Albirroja Fansite (in Spanish)

★ Paraguayan Football Site

Titles