Paraguay

When the national team of Paraguay comes up in conversation, there is only one man worth talking about, Jose Luis Chilavert. The goalkeeper with a bulldog imprinted across his chest was a deadball specialist, and never as a 10year old boy whilst watching France 98 did I ever get more excited than when he came striding up the pitch to take a freekick. It replicas the feeling of when a team is losing by a goal in the last minute of the game and the keeper comes up for a corner, the sheer madness is exuberating.

However, those magical days are now over, but a new influx of talent has embraced the challenge of international football. The Guaranies took the South American World Cup qualifying campaign by storm, racing to 13 points from 5 games, beating both Chile and Brazil. They did appear to stutter towards the latter stages, however, they notched up their biggest ever points total, finishing 3rd, one point behind the top placed Brazil.

Argentinian manager Gerardo Martino has his team well set-up, with a versatile defence. The side only conceded 16 goals in qualifying, the second lowest of the South American sides. They may play four at the back, or go for a flat back three, either way they are more than competent.

Despite having a strong defence, it is Paraguay’s strikers that have made all the headlines. Their top scoring forward in qualifying Salvador Cabanas got shot in the head in Mexico City back in January. The bullet remains in his skull and despite his protestations to play, doctors have informed Cabanas that it would be too dangerous.

This unfortunate occurrence has however not left La Albirroja without a top class striker, as Borussia Dortmund’s Nelson Haedo Valdez is still available. His strike rate of 9 goals in 38 caps needs a little improvement, but he was the second top goalscorer for the team in qualifying with 5 goals so his form may be on the up.

Along with Haedo Valdez Paraguay boast the use of Roque Santa Cruz. The Premier League has seen a mixture of performances from the lanky striker, yet his class is unquestionable. The fact that he is warming the bench now-a-days says more about Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy then it does about the hot and cold Paraguayan.

Paraguay have landed a favourable draw in South Africa, in a very progressible Group F. Italy are the seeded side in the group and should cruise through. Although, Paraguay have beaten Brazil and Argentina in qualifying and so should not be underestimated. Slovakia and New Zealand are the other opponents and so I would fully expect to see them advance to the last 16.

This is the fourth consecutive finals Paraguay have been involved in. In 2006 they failed to make it out of England’s group, but in 98 and 2002 they progressed to the last 16. Having never been past this point, the South Americans will be looking to advance to the quarterfinals, yet a last 16 match against the Netherlands is likely and so their tournament may well once again end there.

Paraguay have a very capable side and could be one of the teams that causes an upset in South Africa. The new generation of players have a lot to live up to but with the likes of Santa Cruz and Cristian Riveros they have the potential to do well. Whether or not they will be able to recreate the magic of 74 caps and 8 goals that Chilavert brought is another matter, but then again, even Emile Heskey’s 58 caps and 7 goals cannot do that.