Paraguayan national soccer team

This article is about the Paraguayan men's national soccer team . For the U-20 team, see Paraguayan National Football Team (U-20 men) .

Paraguay
Paraguay

Nickname (s)	Guaraníes , La Albirroja
Association	Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol
confederacy	CONMEBOL
Technical sponsor	adidas
Head coach	Eduardo Berizzo (since 2019)
captain	Paulo da Silva
Record scorer	Roque Santa Cruz (32)
Record player	Paulo da Silva (150)
Home stadium	Estadio Defensores del Chaco
FIFA code	PAR
FIFA rank	41st (1461 points) (as of July 16, 2020)
First jersey Second jersey
statistics
First international match Paraguay 1: 5 Argentina ( Asunción , Paraguay ; May 11, 1919)
Biggest wins Paraguay 7-0 Bolivia ( Rio de Janeiro , Brazil ; April 30, 1949) Hong Kong 7-0 Paraguay ( Hong Kong ; November 17, 2010)
Biggest defeat Argentina 8-0 Paraguay ( Santiago , Chile ; October 20, 1926)
Successes in tournaments
World Championship
Participation in the finals	8 ( first : 1930 )
Best results	Quarterfinals 2010
South American Championship
Participation in the finals	34 ( first : 1921 )
Best results	Winner 1953, 1979
(As of March 23, 2017)

The Paraguayan national soccer team is the national soccer team of Paraguay and is managed by the national soccer association Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol .

The jersey colors of the national team are red and white (jersey) and blue (shorts and socks).

history

The beginnings (1906–1930)

Shortly after football was made famous in Paraguay by the Dutchman William Paats, the Liga Paraguaya de Futbol was founded in 1906 (today: Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol). In 1910 the first national team came together and played against the Argentine club Hércules of Corrientes. This game was preceded by an invitation from the Argentine club. The game ended 0-0.

Due to the high number of invitations to friendly matches and tournaments, the Paraguayan Football Association decided to introduce an official national team. In 1919 the invitation to the Campeonato Sudamericano 1921 was accepted. In the same year, Paraguay's first official international match took place. Opponent was Argentina , and they won 5-1.

Because of its participation in the Copa America, the association joined FIFA in 1925 .

At the Copa America, Paraguay surprised by beating three-time tournament winners Uruguay 2-1 in their first game. After two defeats against Argentina and Brazil, the Paraguayan national team finished their first international tournament in last place.

In 1930 Paraguay took part in the first soccer world championship . In Uruguay, the team faced the United States and Belgium. After a 3-0 loss to the Americans, Paraguay beat Belgium 1-0. Since only the first in the group got into the knockout phase, the tournament for the South Americans was over at this point.

At the two following world championships, the team did not take part in the qualification.

The first successes (1930–1970)

At the following Copa America tournaments in 1929 , 1947 and 1949 Paraguay showed very good performances.

The national team was automatically qualified for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil because the national teams of Peru and Ecuador had canceled. During the World Cup finals Paraguay played against Sweden and Italy, India had previously canceled their participation. Paraguay played 2-2 against the Swedes, in the last group game against Italy. the team lost 0-2.

In 1953 the Campeonato Sudamericano 1953 in Peru was the first international tournament to be won. Paraguay finished the finals tied with Brazil and won the playoff for the title 3-2.

For the soccer world championship 1954 the Ablirroja could not qualify. In 1957 Paraguay qualified for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. In the decisive game, the favored Uruguay was beaten 5-0.

In the first game against France, the South Americans even led 3: 2, but lost the game 3: 7 in the end. After a 3-2 win over Scotland and a draw against Yugoslavia, the team only reached third place in the group. Juan Bautista Aguero scored two goals for Paraguay in this tournament. In addition to Agüero, who later played for Sevilla FC and Real Madrid, there were also other players in the team who made the leap to Europe.

Nevertheless, they did not qualify for the next World Cup in Chile in 1962.

More influence in South America (1970–1990)

Paraguay failed to qualify for a soccer World Cup in the 1960s and 1970s, but the successes in South America made the team a strong opponent in South America. In 1979 the Copa America could be won and with Club Olimpia the country had a strong football club, which won the Copa Libertadores in the same year .

Important players at the time were Romerito , Carlos Alberto Kiese, Alicio Solalinde, Roberto Paredes, Hugo Ricardo Talavera and Eugenio Morel.

After 28 years Paraguay was able to qualify for a World Cup for the first time. The 1986 World Cup took place in Mexico . The Guaraníes prevailed in qualifying in the last round against Colombia and Chile. In Mexico, the team played against Mexico, Belgium and Iraq in the first round. In the first game you could beat the Iraqi national team. Against Mexico and Belgium you reached a draw. Romerito and Roberto Cabañas scored all goals in the preliminary round. With a second place in the group it was possible to reach the round of 16 at a World Cup for the first time. But Paraguay lost 3-0 to England.

The golden generation (1990-2006)

After the first success at a World Cup to get beyond the preliminary round, Paraguay did not manage to qualify for a World Cup in the following preliminary rounds ( 1990 and 1994 ).

In 1992 the South Americans won the qualifying tournament for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The team finished second in their group, but failed in the quarter-finals to Ghana.

During this time many young players played in the national team. Carlos Gamarra , Celso Ayala , José Luis Chilavert and Francisco Arce were the new generation of football players in Paraguay.

This generation managed in the years to come that the Albirroja successfully participated in three world championships and were always among the top favorites in the South American tournaments. Paraguay became one of the best teams in South America.

At the 1998 World Cup you could assert yourself in the group against Spain, Nigeria and Bulgaria. In the round of 16, the team lost 0-1 to eventual world champions France. Laurent Blanc scored the decisive golden goal in extra time . Carlos Gamarra, Celso Ayala and goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert have been nominated for the tournament's All-Star Team.

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup failed Paraguay also in the second round. The German national team defeated the South Americans 1-0. Oliver Neuville scored in the 88th minute.

At the 2006 World Cup , the Albirroja failed in the preliminary round to Sweden and England.

The presence

After the 2006 World Cup, then coach Aníbal Ruiz resigned. Raúl Vicente Amarilla took over the post of head coach on an interim basis. In 2007, the Argentine Gerardo Martino became the new coach of the Guaraníes.

In the Copa America in recent years you have almost always achieved a place in the top eight. At the last Copa América in 2007 , the team failed to Mexico in the quarter-finals 6-0.

After many players of the golden generation like Carlos Gamarra, Francisco Arce, Celso Ayala and José Luis Chilavert announced their resignation, the country needed new hope for the next few years. They found this in the Paraguayan U-19 national team, which won the international youth tournament Milk Cup in Northern Ireland in 2002, 2003 and 2006.

Players like Nelson Valdez , Julio dos Santos , José Montiel and Óscar Cardozo became the team's new key players. The new national team completed the CONMEBOL qualification for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in third place. Even record world champions Brazil could be defeated 2-0. In the preliminary round of the World Cup, Paraguay took first place after a win against Slovakia and two draws against Italy and New Zealand and met Japan in the round of 16 . After the regular playing time and extra time ended without a goal, the decision on penalties had to be made for the first time at the World Cup in South Africa. In this Paraguay was able to win 5: 3. It was Paraguay's first win on penalties after losing out on two penalties at the Copa America . This was the first time Paraguay had reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup, and for the first time four South American teams were among the last eight of the tournament. In a dramatic match against Spain , in which both teams were awarded a penalty within 2 minutes and missed, Paraguay lost 1-0.

In 2011 , they made it into a single final of the Copa America for the first time. Paraguay only achieved two wins in the entire tournament, both on penalties. After three draws, the group stage was one of the two best thirds in the group. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals they played 0-0 and won the two penalties due, the first of which was 2-0 against Brazil. In the final against Uruguay, Paraguay had no chance and lost 3-0.

In qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the national team failed as the last in the South America group with only twelve points (Uruguay reached the play-off game with 25 points).

Participation in soccer world championships

Paraguay took part in seven world championship finals. Several times they were eliminated in the qualification, including once against the eventual world champion. Since the South American qualification in the league system between all South American CONMEBOL members, Paraguay has always been able to qualify except for the disappointing performance at the Eliminatorias 2014 and 2018. So far, the team has not made it past the quarter-finals. Paraguay lost three times in the knockout round with 0: 1, including twice against eventual world champions France and Spain and in 2002 against eventual runner-up Germany . In 2010 Paraguay was able to prevail against reigning world champions Italy in the group stage.

year	Host country	Participation until ...	Last opponent	Result	Trainer	Comments and special features
1930	Uruguay	Preliminary round	USA , Belgium	9.	José Durand Laguna	The games against the USA and Belgium were the first against a North American and European team.
1934	Italy	not participated
1938	France	not participated
1950	Brazil	Preliminary round	Sweden , Italy	11.	Manuel Fleitas Solich
1954	Switzerland	not qualified				In the qualifications of vice world champion Brazil failed
1958	Sweden	Preliminary round	France , Yugoslavia , Scotland	12.	Aurelio Gonzales	The 3-7 win against France is one of the highest-scoring games in World Cup history
1962	Chile	not qualified				In qualifying at Mexico failed
1966	England	not qualified				In the qualification of Argentina failed
1970	Mexico	not qualified				In qualifying at eventual champions Brazil failed
1974	Germany	not qualified				In the qualification of Argentina failed
1978	Argentina	not qualified				In the qualification of Brazil failed
1982	Spain	not qualified				In the qualification of Chile failed
1986	Mexico	Round of 16	England	13.	Cayetano Ré	3-0 loss to England
1990	Italy	not qualified				In the qualification of Colombia failed
1994	United States	not qualified				In the qualification of Colombia and Vice World Champion Argentina failed
1998	France	Round of 16	France	14th	Paulo César Carpegiani	0-1 defeat by Golden Goal against the eventual world champion
2002	South Korea / Japan	Round of 16	Germany	16.	Cesare Maldini	0-1 defeat against the eventual runner-up
2006	Germany	Preliminary round	England , Sweden , Trinidad and Tobago	18th	Aníbal Ruiz
2010	South Africa	Quarter finals	Spain	8th.	Gerardo Martino	0-1 defeat against eventual world champions
2014	Brazil	not qualified				With a 2: 5 on the third last match day against Argentina, which qualifies, Paraguay missed the qualification.
2018	Russia	not qualified				Paraguay missed the qualification with a 0: 1 on the last matchday against Venezuela.

Participation in the Copa America

• 1916 to 1920 - did not participate
• 1921 - 4th place
• 1922 - final
• 1923 - 3rd place
• 1924 - 3rd place
• 1925 - 3rd place
• 1926 - 4th place
• 1927 - did not participate
• 1929 - final
• 1935 - did not take part
• 1937 - 4th place
• 1939 - 3rd place
• 1941 - did not take part
• 1942 - 4th place
• 1945 - did not participate
• 1946 - 3rd place
• 1947 - final
• 1949 - final
• 1953 - winner
• 1955 - 5th place
• 1956 - 5th place
• 1957 - did not take part
• 1959 (I) - 3rd place
• 1959 (II) - 5th place
• 1963 - final
• 1967 - 4th place
• 1975 - round 1
• 1979 - winner
• 1983 - semi-finals
• 1987 - round 1
• 1989 - 4th place
• 1991 - round 1
• 1993 - quarter-finals
• 1995 - quarter-finals
• 1997 - quarter-finals
• 1999 - quarter-finals
• 2001 - round 1
• 2004 - quarter-finals
• 2007 - quarter-finals
• 2011 - second
• 2015 - fourth
• 2016 - Preliminary round (Copa América Centenario)

Record player

Surname	position	Years	Games (goals)	Record international player
Paulo da Silva	Defense	2000-2017	148 (3)	since March 26, 2013 (110)
Justo Villar	goal	1999-2018	120 (0)
Roque Santa Cruz	attack	1999-2016	112 (32)
Carlos Gamarra	Defense	1993-2006	110 (12)	September 6, 2003 to June 7, 2013 (85 to 110)
Roberto Acuña	midfield	1993-2011	100 (5)	May 17, 2002 (78) to July 6, 2003 (84)
Denis Caniza	Defense	1996-2010	100 (1)
Cristian Riveros	midfield	2005-2018	99 (16)
Celso Ayala	Defense	1993-2003	85 (6)	July 2, 2003 (84) to September 10, 2003 (85)
José Saturnino Cardozo	attack	1991-2006	82 (25)
Carlos Bonet	midfield	2002–2012	80 (1)
Roberto Fernández	goal	1976-1989	78 (0)	May 5, 1989 (67) to June 2, 2002 (78)
Juan Bautista Torales	Defense	1979-1989	77 (1)	November 17, 1985 (49) to May 7, 1989 (67)
Nelson Valdez	attack	2004-2016	77 (13)
José Luis Chilavert	goal	1989-2003	74 (8)
Carlos Humberto Paredes	midfield	1998-2008	74 (10)
Estanislao Struway	midfield	1991-2002	74 (4)
Víctor Javier Cáceres	midfield	2005–	73 (2)

Record goal scorers

José Saturnino Cardozo has been the record scorer since September 5, 2001 when he first set and then outbid the record of Saturnino Arrúa and Julio César Romero with his 13th and 14th goals in the game against Bolivia . On July 9, 2011, Roque Santa Cruz set his record of 25 goals in a 2-2 win against Brazil in the Copa America and surpassed it on June 7, 2013 when he beat Chile in the 89th minute in a 2-2 win in the World Cup qualifier scored the next goal.

Surname	Years	Goals (games)
Roque Santa Cruz	1999-2016	32 (112)
José Saturnino Cardozo	1991-2006	25 (82)
Cristian Riveros	2005-2016	16 (99)
Saturnino Arrúa	1969-1980	13 (26)
Julio César Romero	1979-1986	13 (32)
Nelson Valdez	2004-2016	13 (77)
Oscar René Cardozo	2006-	12 (55)
Carlos Gamarra	1993-2006	12 (110)
Miguel Ángel Benítez	1996-1999	11 (29)
Roberto Cabañas	1981-1993	11 (28)
Lucas Barrios	2010-2017	10 (34)
Marcial Barrios	1939-1949	10 (<25)
Salvador Cabañas	2003-2009	10 (45)
Aurelio González	1924-1937	10 (23)
Carlos Humberto Paredes	1998-2008	10 (74)
Gerardo Rivas	1921-1926	10 (32)
Juan Bautista Villalba	1945-1947	10 (22)

As of November 19, 2019

Trainer

(incomplete)

Name of the trainer	Period	comment
José Durand Laguna	1921-1922
Manuel Fleitas Solich	1922-1929
José Duran Laguna	1929-1945	• Coach at the 1930 World Cup
Manuel Fleitas Solich	1945-1946
Aurelio Rodrigo González	1946-1947
Manuel Fleitas Solich	1947-1951	• Coach at the 1950 World Cup
Julio Ramirez	1951-1955
Aurelio Rodrigo González	1955-1959	• Coach at the 1958 World Cup
Benjamin Laterza	1959-1962	• Coach at the 1958 World Cup
Ondino Viera	1963	• Coach at the Copa América 1963
Manuel Fleitas Solich	1962-1965
Aurelio Rodrigo González	1965–1974 [?]
Heriberto Herrera	1967
Benjamin Benítez	1974-1976
Ramón Rodríguez	1976–1980 [?]
Ranulfo Miranda		• 1979 Copa América coach 1979: Copa América winner
Heriberto Herrera	1980
Carlos Monin	1980-1983
José Sasía	1981
Ranulfo Miranda	1983-1985
Cayetano Ré	1986-1988	• Coach at the 1986 World Cup
Eduardo Luján Manera	1988-1989	• Coach at the 1989 Copa America
Rubén Óscar Valdez	1990
Carlos Alberto Kiese Wiesner	1991-1992	• Coach at the 1991 Copa America
Sergio Markarián	1992
Alicio Solalinde	1993-1994	• Coach at the 1993 Copa America
László Kubala	1995
Paulo César Carpegiani	1996-1998	• Coach at the 1997 Copa America. • Coach at the 1998 World Cup
Ever Hugo Almeida	1999	• Coach at the 1999 Copa America
Sergio Markarián	1999-2000	• Coach at the 2001 Copa America
Cesare Maldini	2001-2002	• Coach at the 2002 World Cup
Aníbal Ruiz	July 2002 - June 2004
Carlos Jara Saguier	2004	• Coach at the 2004 Copa America
Aníbal Ruiz	July 2004 - July 2006	• Coach at the 2006 World Cup
Raúl Vicente Amarilla	2006-2007	• Interim trainer
Gerardo Daniel Martino	March 2007–2011	• Coach at the Copa America 2007 and 2011 • Coach at the 2010 World Cup
Francisco Arce	2011 – June 2012
Gerardo Pelusso	July 2012 – June 2013
Víctor Genes	July 2013 – December 2014
Ramón Díaz	December 2014 – June 2016
Francisco Arce	August 2016 – December 2017
Gustavo Morinigo	February 2018 – September 2018
Juan Carlos Osorio	September 2018 – February 2019
Eduardo Berizzo	since February 2019

International matches against German-speaking national soccer teams

	date	place	occasion	Home team	result	Visiting team
1.	June 15, 2002	Seogwipo ( )	World Cup 2002 , round of 16	Paraguay	0: 1 (0: 0)	Germany
2.	June 2, 2007	Vienna	Friendly match	Austria	0-0	Paraguay
3.	August 14, 2013	Kaiserslautern	Friendly match	Germany	3: 3 (2: 3)	Paraguay

So far there have been no games against Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

literature

• André Dahlmeyer: One people, one cry - Paraguay! In: Azzellini, Thimmel (2006): Futbolistas. Football and Latin America: Hopes, Heroes, Politics and Commerce. ISBN 3-935936-46-X

See also

• List of international matches for the Paraguayan national football team
• Paraguayan National Football Team (U-17 Juniors)
• Paraguayan National Football Team (U-20 Men)

Web links

Commons : Paraguayan National Soccer Team  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Paraguayan Association
• German-language website about Paraguayan football

See also: Soccer in South America

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The FIFA / Coca-Cola World Ranking. In: fifa.com. July 16, 2020, accessed July 21, 2020 . 
2. ↑ The placements from 5th place onwards were determined by FIFA without any placement games. See: All-time FIFA World Cup Ranking 1930–2010 (PDF; 200 kB)
3. ↑ fifa.com: Match report Paraguay - Chile
4. ↑ rsssf.com: Paraguay - Record International Players
5. ^ Paraguay: Copa America squad 1997 in Bolivia on weltfussball.de
6. ^ Paraguay: Copa America 1999 squad in Paraguay on weltfussball.de
7. ^ Paraguay: Copa America 2001 squad in Colombia on weltfussball.de
8. ↑ ^{a b} Aníbal Ruiz - Profile on soccerway.com , accessed October 22, 2016
9. ^ Paraguay: Copa America 2004 squad in Peru on weltfussball.de
10. ↑ Víctor Genés - Profile on soccerway.com , accessed October 4, 2016
11. ↑ SID / fifa.com: "Argentinian Diaz new national coach in Paraguay"