Team profile: Paraguay
The South Americans are apparently relishing the tag of “underdogs” as they look to qualify for the second round at their third successive World Cup. Like Group B opponents England they too are waiting on the fitness of their star striker, Bayern Munich’s Roque Santa Cruz. Should he be f
FIFA Ranking: 33
Coach: Anibal Ruiz
Key players: Roque Santa Cruz, Nelson Haedo Valdez, Nelson Cuevas
World Cup record: Seventh appearance
Best finish: Second round 1998, 2002
Qualifying route: Fourth in South American qualifying
Key question: Without their talismanic goal keeper Jose Luis Chilavert can the Paraguayans better their efforts of the last two Cups?
Squad:
| Goalkeepers | # |
| Justo Villar | 1 |
| Derlis Gomez | 12 |
| Aldo Bobadilla | 22 |
| Defenders | |
| Jorge Nunez | 2 |
| Delio Toledo | 3 |
| Carlos Gamarra | 4 |
| Julio Cesar Caceres | 5 |
| Paulo da Silva | 14 |
| Julio Manzur | 15 |
| Denis Caniza | 21 |
| Midfielders | |
| Carlos Bonet | 6 |
| Salvador Cabanas | 7 |
| Edgar Barreto | 8 |
| Roberto Acuna | 10 |
| Diego Gavilan | 11 |
| Carlos Paredes | 13 |
| Cristian Riveros | 16 |
| Jose Montiel | 17 |
| Julio dos Santos | 19 |
| Forwards | |
| Roque Santa Cruz | 9 |
| Nelson Valdez | 18 |
| Jose Cardozo | 20 |
| Nelson Cuevas | 23 |
Group matches:
v England, 13:00 GMT, Saturday 10th June – Frankfurt
v Sweden, 19:00 GMT, Thursday 15th June – Berlin
v Trinidad & Tobago, 19:00 GMT, Tuesday 20th June – Kaiserslautern