Paraguay
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| Nickname | Guaraníes and La Albirroja |
| Association |
Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol (Paraguayan Football Association) |
| Coach | Aníbal Ruiz (2002-) |
| Most caps | Carlos Gamarra (104) |
| Top scorer | José Saturnino Cardozo (24) |
| First international Paraguay 1 - 5 Argentina (Asunción, Paraguay; 11 March 1919) |
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| Largest win Paraguay 7 - 0 Bolivia (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 30 April 1949) |
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| Worst defeat Argentina 8 - 0 Paraguay (Santiago, Chile; 20 October 1926) |
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| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 7 (First in 1930) |
| Best result | Round 2, 1986, 1998, 2002 |
| Copa América | |
| Appearances | 32 (First in 1921) |
| Best result | Winners, 1953 and 1979 |
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. It was the first Olympic medal Paraguay ever won in any sport.
Paraguay's current squad is more well-known for its defensive skill than its ability to score goals, with players such as Denis Caniza and captain Carlos Gamarra being amongst its most prominent members. However, the future of this strategy looks questionable due to the recent international retirement of defenders Francisco Arce and Celso Ayala, and that of world-famous goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert. Several key players are now in the latter stages of their career, so Paraguay will be looking to harness talent amongst the younger generation if they are to maintain the increase in status they have achieved over the past decade. There is optimism that this can occur, as Paraguay's under-19 side won the Milk Cup in both 2002 and 2003.
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 - Qualified
Copa América record
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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 |
Most Paraguay caps
| Player | Paraguay career | Caps (Goals) |
|---|---|---|
| Carlos Gamarra | 1993-present | 104 (11) |
| Roberto Acuña | 1993-present | 87 (5) |
| Celso Ayala | 1993-2003 | 85 (6) |
| José Saturnino Cardozo | 1991-present | 79 (24) |
| 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) |
| Denis Caniza | 1996-present | 70 (1) |
| Julio César Enciso | 1995-2004 | 70 (2) |
Top Paraguay goalscorers
| Player | Paraguay career | Goals (Caps) |
|---|---|---|
| José Saturnino Cardozo | 1991-present | 24 (79) |
| Saturnino Arrúa | 1969-1980 | 13 (26) |
| Julio César Romero | 1979-1986 | 13 (32) |
| Roque Santa Cruz | 1999-present | 13 (42) |
| Gerardo Rivas | 1921-1926 | 12 (32) |
| Miguel Angel Benítez | 1996-1999 | 11 (29) |
| Carlos Gamarra | 1993-present | 11 (104) |
| Juan Bautista Villalba | 1945-1947 | 10 (22) |
| Aurelio González | 1924-1937 | 10 (23) |
| Carlos Humberto Paredes | 1993-present | 10 (65) |
Famous players
Francisco Arce
Saturnino Arrúa
Celso Ayala
José Saturnino Cardozo
José Luis Chilavert
Arsenio Erico
Roberto Fernández
Carlos Gamarra
Aurelio González
Romerito
Roque Santa Cruz
Juan Bautista Villalba
Current squad
Goalkeepers
Diego Barreto
Derlis Gómez
Justo Villar
Defenders
Pedro Benítez
Juan Daniel Cáceres
Julio César Cáceres
Denis Caniza
Paulo da Silva
Carlos Gamarra
Julio Manzur
Jorge Núñez
Pedro Sarabia
Delio Toledo
Midfielders
Roberto Acuña
Edgar Barreto
Carlos Bonet
Julio dos Santos
Diego Gavilán
José Montiel
Ángel Ortíz
Carlos Paredes
Cristian Riveros
Aureliano Torres
Forwards
Fredy Bareiro
Salvador Cabañas
José Cardozo
Nelsón Cuevas
Dante López
César Ramírez
Roque Santa Cruz
Nelson Valdez
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 (in German)