[South American Regional Qualifiers]
16 Matches 9 Wins 2 Ties 5 Losses (29 Points)
| 4/24/96 | Vs. Colombia | Lose | 1-0 |
| 6/2/96 | Vs. Uruguay | Win | 0-2 |
| 9/1/96 | Vs. Argentina | Draw | 1-1 |
| 10/9/96 | Vs. Chile | Win | 2-1 |
| 11/10/96 | Vs. Ecuador | Win | 1-0 |
| 12/15/96 | Vs. Bolivia | Draw | 0-0 |
| 1/12/97 | Vs. Venezuala | Win | 0-2 |
| 2/12/97 | Vs. Peru | Win | 2-1 |
| 4/2/97 | Vs. Colombia | Win | 2-1 |
| 4/30/97 | Vs. Uruguay | Win | 3-1 |
| 7/6/97 | Vs. Argentina | Lose | 1-2 |
| 7/20/97 | Vs. Chile | Lose | 2-1 |
| 8/20/97 | Vs. Ecuador | Lose | 2-1 |
| 9/10/97 | Vs. Bolivia | Win | 2-1 |
| 10/12/97 | Vs. Venezuala | Win | 2-1 |
| 11/16/97 | Vs. Peru | Win | 1-0 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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| Organization |
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Experience |
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| Talent |
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Capacity to surprise |
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The primary feature of the Paraguayan team is definitely its stable defense. In the 16 qualifying matches, it gave up only 14 goals, the next best after the 13 goals given up by Argentina, which finished the qualifiers in first place. The backbone of this defense is the final line which boasts superior stability and goalkeeper Chilavert, said to be the best in the world. Actually, Chilavert's saving skills are just above average and he somewhat lacks coolness, but his role as the psychological pillar of the team is large and he is involved in many goals from long kicks and free kicks. Also, the defensive corps with the four players Ayara, Rivarola, Gamarra, and Arce has a wealth of experience and a proven track record and when these five players are lined up together, the wall in front of the Paraguayan goal is amazingly solid.
Compared to the defense, the offense is visibly inferior. In the midfield, Acuna and Penitesu are highly skilled players, but there are no reliable players for the front line. There is no one to be the goal getter or the chance maker. The Paraguayans scored a total of 21 goals in the qualifying matches, but the offensive patterns are running in from the second row or heading by the tall Gamarra or Rivarola off free kicks or corner kicks by Arce. How to reconstruct the thin forward corp and increase the offensive power is a major topic for the future.
*LIGA PARAGUAYA DE
FUTBOL
[Address]
- Estadio Defencsores
- del Chaco Calles
- Mayor Martinezy
- Aiejo Garcia Asuncion
[Established] 1906
*5th World Cup
(1930, 1950, 1958, 1986, 1998)
No championships |
Francisco ARCE
* DF
An all-around right side back who holds the key to Paraguay's fortunes
He is a defensive player, but he is such a major weapon for the Paraguayans and such a key to its rise or fall that the number of times he participates in the attack is a barometer of the fortunes of the team. His all-around play is hard to wrap up in the role of a right side back. With his amazing stamina, he runs all over the field both left and right like a phantom and activates the team by being a starting point for the attack with aggressive overlapping. Also, as a specialist for set plays, he shows incomparably accurate place kicking and his presence is truly the center pillar for the team. It is not an exaggeration to say that victory or defeat for Parguay will depend on his movements.
Paolo CARPEGGIANI
In his playing days, this Brazilian appeared in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. As a coach, he won the 1981 Toyota Cup with Flamenco. From the qualifiers for this World Cup, he took over as the coach of the Paraguayan national team and at the same time launched a renovation of the team. He introduced the irregular 3-back system and led the Paraguayans through the qualifiers, where they had been expected to struggle. As the savior who brought a Paraguayan team that had been down for a while to its fifth World Cup appearance and first since 1986, his skills are highly regarded.
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