Population: 6 million
Capital: Asuncion
Shirt: Red and white stripes
Nickname: La Albirroja
Manager: Anibal Ruiz
Website: Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol
World ranking: 33
Odds: 200/1
Star man: Roque Santa Cruz was leading his country's attack at the age of 17. Frequent injuries have interrupted his career but he seems to be winning his recovery from his latest breakdown in time for Germany. When fully fit he gives the team a threat in the air and pace and skill on the ground.
Squad: Click Here for the Paraguay squad |
 Paraguay are back again for a third World Cup in succession, taking their total number of appearances to seven. They will be hoping to get good results against group favorites England and Sweden in their bid to progress.
The fourth team to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Paraguay left six teams behind them in their qualification group, including two-time world champions Uruguay, who saw their World Cup dreams quashed in a penalty kick shoot-out against Australia. |  Paraguay's stars are a known quantity in Germany, as many of them play club soccer for Bundesliga teams, including Julio dos Santos, a silver medal winner at the Athens Olympics and recent addition to Bayern Munich. Roque Santa Cruz, a teammate of dos Santos' on the national and club teams, has proved to be a dangerous player, but injury has left him wondering if he'll make the World Cup roster. Nelson Valdez, a Werder Bremen regular, on the other hand will be able to tell his teammates the ins and outs of the German stadiums -- and how to win in them. |
|
