Paraguay on course for 2010 FIFA World Cup

April 14, 2008

Their tame exit from the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany led to a mass restructuring of football in Paraguay, with the national team appointing a new manager and introducing the next generation of players. Just two years on, the strategy appears to be paying dividends with “Albirroja”, under the leadership of manager Gerardo Martino well on course for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.

After the fourth round of qualifying fixtures, Paraguay lead the South American qualifying section having picked up ten points in an unbeaten start to the 2010 qualifying campaign.

Results
Peru 0-0 Paraguay
Paraguay 1-0 Uruguay
Paraguay 5-1 Ecuador
Chile 0-3 ParaguayDespite several key players retiring after the disappointment of Germany 2006, Paraguay remain very solid at the back - conceding just once in the opening four qualifiers and that came when the game was already won against Ecuador. Justo Villar’s consistency between the posts, the leadership of Julio Cesar Caceres and the reliability of Claudio Morel Rodriguez and Co have given Gerardo Martino’s team the best defensive record in the competition and the confidence to face the world’s most potent attackers.

Up front, Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz remains the key player but Paraguay do have strength in depth with Martino also able to reply on stars such as Salvador Cabanas and Oscar Cardozo. Eight goals in their last two games suggest the Paraguayns do have the attacking flair to complement their defensive tightness.

The best result of the camapign so far was definitely their impressive 3-0 win against Marcelo Bielsa’s exicting young Chilean side. In front of 60,000 fans inside a packed Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Paraguay ran riot and goals from Cabanas and a double from Paulo da Silva game them a 3-0 win to put them well on course the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Of course, there is still much work to be done to reach the 2010 Finals and tougher games against the giants of Argentina and Brazil will follow. However, with four qualifying spots up for grabs from the South American qualifying section, Paraguay do look odds on to reach the 2010 Finals.

“The Paraguayan team is in a period of transition, and during this phase we’re seeking to bring in new players to consolidate everything that’s been achieved over the last 15 years. So far, those who have come in have demonstrated they are capable of doing that. This was our overriding objective, and we’re achieving it” said coach Martino.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.