Know your Enemy: Paraguay
Credit:
With Ireland facing Paraguay at the RDS on Tuesday evening
Extratime has decided to have an in-depth look at the South
Americans starting with a tragedy that rocked the South Americans.
When Giovanni Trapattoni and his counterpart Geardo Martino meet at the RDS the two managers will know that the result on the night is insignificant when viewed against off-field tragedies that the men had to endure. Both managers have had the horrifying experience of seeing one of their players close to death’s door.
The Italian has said that the freak injury suffered by Shane Duffy against the Irish amateurs was the worst feeling he had ever felt in his illustrious football career. The news that the 18 year old has left intensive care will be a huge relief to everyone involved in Irish football and we wish the talented Everton defender a speedy recovery.
Paraguayan fans were also reaching for their rosary beads when their star striker Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head in January. The fact that the Club America striker survived is nothing short of a miracle but his absence at South Africa will be a major blow for Martino’s men. Cabanas played a major part in Paraguay’s fine qualifying campaign, finishing top scorer with six goals and setting up a lot more for his fellow forwards. The good news is that the striker is back training at a rehabilitation centre north of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
La Albirroja’s preparations for the clash at the RDS was also disrupted after they had $110,000 in cash stolen from a hotel room in Evian-les-Bains where they are holding a preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup. Despite these setbacks they will prove a tough test for the boys in green.
Paraguay : Talking Points and Trivia
FIFA Ranking: 30th
Paraguay qualified for the 2010 World Cup where they will face Slovakia, New Zealand and World Champions Italy in group F.
They finished joint second with Chile in the South American qualification only a point behind winners Brazil.
They only conceded 16 goals in 18 games. The second best defensive record in South America behind Brazil.
In qualification they beat Brazil 2-0 and Argentina 1-0.
South Africa will be their fourth successive World Cup their eighth in total.
They have never got past the last 16 at the World Cup.
Manager Martino sets his team up to play attacking football and regularly switches between 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2.
Last Meeting: Rep of Ireland 2-0 Paraguay (Connolly, Irwin ) 10/2/99
Ones to Watch
Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo has been in blistering form this season, scoring an absurd 38 goals across all competitions, including nine in the Europa League. The Portuguese top scorer has been attracting the interest of Man City and Liverpool fans may remember him after he netted a brace in Lisbon.
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is arguably the only household name in the Paraguay squad. Terribly injury prone but with 21 goals he is Paraguay’s second highest all time top scorer. The ex Bayern Munich and Blackburn Rovers target man only scored four times this season but he is a proven goal scorer and if the £17m striker will need to be watched closely.
When Giovanni Trapattoni and his counterpart Geardo Martino meet at the RDS the two managers will know that the result on the night is insignificant when viewed against off-field tragedies that the men had to endure. Both managers have had the horrifying experience of seeing one of their players close to death’s door.
The Italian has said that the freak injury suffered by Shane Duffy against the Irish amateurs was the worst feeling he had ever felt in his illustrious football career. The news that the 18 year old has left intensive care will be a huge relief to everyone involved in Irish football and we wish the talented Everton defender a speedy recovery.
Paraguayan fans were also reaching for their rosary beads when their star striker Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head in January. The fact that the Club America striker survived is nothing short of a miracle but his absence at South Africa will be a major blow for Martino’s men. Cabanas played a major part in Paraguay’s fine qualifying campaign, finishing top scorer with six goals and setting up a lot more for his fellow forwards. The good news is that the striker is back training at a rehabilitation centre north of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
La Albirroja’s preparations for the clash at the RDS was also disrupted after they had $110,000 in cash stolen from a hotel room in Evian-les-Bains where they are holding a preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup. Despite these setbacks they will prove a tough test for the boys in green.
Paraguay : Talking Points and Trivia
FIFA Ranking: 30th
Paraguay qualified for the 2010 World Cup where they will face Slovakia, New Zealand and World Champions Italy in group F.
They finished joint second with Chile in the South American qualification only a point behind winners Brazil.
They only conceded 16 goals in 18 games. The second best defensive record in South America behind Brazil.
In qualification they beat Brazil 2-0 and Argentina 1-0.
South Africa will be their fourth successive World Cup their eighth in total.
They have never got past the last 16 at the World Cup.
Manager Martino sets his team up to play attacking football and regularly switches between 4-4-2 and 4-3-1-2.
Last Meeting: Rep of Ireland 2-0 Paraguay (Connolly, Irwin ) 10/2/99
Ones to Watch
Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo has been in blistering form this season, scoring an absurd 38 goals across all competitions, including nine in the Europa League. The Portuguese top scorer has been attracting the interest of Man City and Liverpool fans may remember him after he netted a brace in Lisbon.
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz is arguably the only household name in the Paraguay squad. Terribly injury prone but with 21 goals he is Paraguay’s second highest all time top scorer. The ex Bayern Munich and Blackburn Rovers target man only scored four times this season but he is a proven goal scorer and if the £17m striker will need to be watched closely.
