Paraguay Soccer Team

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Paraguay Soccer Team General Information
Country - Paraguay
Capital City- Asuncion
Continent- South America
Manager- Anibal Ruiz
Captain- Carlos Gamarra
Star Man- Carlos Gamarra, Denis Caniza

Paraguay Soccer Team History
Founded 1906
Affiliated 1921

WC participations 6 (1930, 1950, 1958, 1986, 1998, 2002)
WC honours Last sixteen (1998, 2002)
Continental Titles Copa America twice (1953, 1979)
First International: Paraguay 1 - 5 Argentina (Asuncion, Paraguay; 11 March 1919)
Largest win: Paraguay 7 - 0 Bolivia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 30 April 1949)
Worst defeat: Argentina 8 - 0 Paraguay (Santiago, Chile; 20 October 1926)
Copa America
Appearances: 32 (First in 1921) Best result Winners, 1953 and 1979

World Cup Record:
Year Host Performance
1930 Uruguay Second, Pool Four
1934 Italy -
1938 France -
1950 Brazil Third, Pool Three
1954 Switzerland -
1958 Sweden Third, Pool Two
1962 Chile -
1966 England -
1970 Mexico -
1974 West Germany -
1978 Argentina -
1982 Spain -
1986 Mexico Second Round (last 16)
1990 Italy -
1994 U.S.A. -
1998 France Second Round (last 16)
2002 S.Korea/Japan Second Round (last 16)
2006 Germany in Group B with England, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago
PARAGUAY Football Team for 2006 FIFA World Cup

Coach:
Anibal Ruiz

Goalkeepers:
Justo Villar, Derlis Gomez, Aldo Bobadilla.

Defenders:
Jorge Nunez, Delio Toledo, Carlos Gamarra, Julio Cesar Caceres, Paulo Da Silva, Julio Cesar Manzur, Denis Caniza.

Midfielders:
Carlos Bonet, Edgar Barreto, Roberto Acuna, Diego Gavilan, Carlos Humberto Paredes, Cristian Riveros, Jose Montiel, Julio Dos Santos.

Forwards:
Salvador Cabanas, Roque Santa Cruz, Nelson Haedo Valdez, Jose Saturnino Cardozo, Nelson Cuevas.

Paraguay Statistics in Group B with England, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago
The team is known as 'Albirroja'
Jersey No. Name of the Player
1 Justo Villar
2 Jorge Nunez
3 Delio Toledo
4 Carlos Gamarra
5 Julio Cesar Caceres
6 Carlos Bonet
7 Salvador Cabanas
8 Edgar Barreto
9 Roque Santa Cruz
10 Roberto Acuna
11 Diego Gavilan
12 Derlis Gomez
13 Carlos Humberto Paredes
14 Paulo Da Silva
15 Julio Cesar Manzur
16 Cristian Riveros
17 Jose Montiel
18 Nelson Haedo Valdez
19 Julio Dos Santos
20 Jose Saturnino Cardozo
21 Denis Caniza
22 Aldo Bobadilla
23 Nelson Cuevas

Paraguay Soccer Team is playing in Group B along with England, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden. Paraguay has participated in the World Cup six times. This time it is the nation's third consecutive World Cup appearance. In France'98 and in South Korea/Japan in 2002, Paraguay made it to the last 16. The 'golden generation' of the nation comprising of Denis Caniza, Roberto Acuna and Jose Cardozo will get to play the last time this FIFA season and will try to get the most out of it. The team of Paraguay is nicknamed the Albirroja.

In the last two FIFA World Cups, Paraguay Soccer Team was defeated by 1-0 margin in the second round. In the 1998 France World Cup it lost to eventual champions France and in 2002 South Korea/Japan World Cup it lost to eventual runner-ups Germany. This FIFA season they have booked a place at Germany 2006. It provides them the perfect opportunity to prove their mettle this time.

Paraguay Soccer Team suffered a 4-1 defeat against Peru in their opening qualifying game in Sept 2003. The Albirroja showed their worth with a series of big wins in Asuncion and away from home. They were assured of their third consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup on 8 October 2005 in Maracaibo, Venezuela when they defeated Venezuela 1-0. In their final qualifier the team suffered a 1-0 home defeat by Colombia on 12 October 2005.

Paraguay had eight wins, four draws and six defeats. They had 23 goals for and the same number against. The team scored its first ever qualifying win over Argentina on 3 September, 2005. It was a 1-0 win.

At France 98 goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert captained the side to goalless draws against Bulgaria and Spain and a victory over Nigeria. They were out after the second round but they had put forth a commendable performance. In South Korea/Japan as well the team exceeded expectations.

Paraguay will be playing with England in the Group B opener on the 10th of June and everyone is hopeful that the team will put forth a commendable performance.