England National Football Team Match No. 838

England 1 Paraguay 0  [1-0]

Saturday, 10 June 2006

Paraguay Pre-Match

Squad details correct up to and including Paraguay's match against Georgia on 31 May 2006.
Tallies are taken from the RSSSF website and FIFA World Cup 2006 website.

Notes

Thursday, 8 June 2006 -  Roque Santa Cruz has declared himself fit to face England in their opening World Cup match.  Santa Cruz said: "I am ok now. I don't have a problem but we will find out (the lineup) today.  I am recovering and feeling well. I think I will start but I don't know. It is up to him," Santa Cruz said pointing to his coach Anibal Ruiz.  Ruiz declined to reveal whether the striker would be in the starting lineup to face England on Saturday.  Ruiz said: "Wait and see until the day of the game at three o'clock. Then you will know (if he starts)."

Tuesday, 6 June 2006 -  José Cardozo has been forced to pull out of the World Cup squad.  The 35-year-old sustained a knock in the friendly with German regional side Bavaria last weekend and scans have confirmed he tore a calf muscle.  Although not expected to start against England on Saturday, Cardozo was his country's leading scorer in qualifying.  Genoa forward Dante Lopez has been called up to replace him.  Lopez, who used to play for Paraguayan giants Olimpia, is flying from Italy to Oberhaching to join up with the squad.  Cardozo scored seven goals during Paraguay's qualifying campaign and his absence will reduce coach Anibal Ruiz's options from the bench.  Ruiz already has concerns over star striker Roque Santa Cruz, although he is expected to recover from a knee injury and play against England.

Wednesday, 24 May 2006 -  Paraguay fear they will be without FC Bayern München AG striker Roque Santa Cruz for their opening World Cup game against England.  Santa Cruz has tendinitis in his right knee, but he is expected to be fit for Paraguay's second game against Sweden.   "We have other options," said Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz. "We want Roque to be 100% as well."
Meanwhile Paraguay drew 2-2 in a friendly with Norway in Oslo.  Frode Johnsen gave Norway a first-half lead, before Paraguay took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from Carlos Gamarra and Nelson Haedo Valdez early in the second half.  Johnsen scored a second for Norway to level the game.

Monday, 15 May 2006 -  Nelson Cuevas has won the battle with Flamengo's Cesar Ramirez for a place among the strikers in Paraguay's 23-man World Cup squad.  The Pachuca player joins a powerful attacking group which includes FC Bayern München AG's fit-again Roque Santa Cruz and Werder Bremen's Nelson Haedo Valdez.  Coach Anibal Ruiz resisted the temptation to spring any surprises.  There was a tried and tested flavour to his squad and veteran Roberto Acuna has been selected for his third World Cup.  Ruiz defended his selection against criticism that it was too old to make an impact.  "Those players who are bound for the World Cup are the same athletes who fought for Paraguay's berth in the qualifying process.  A generational changeover has been made without any complications.  We have many young assets who have the backing of those with more experience."  As well as Acuna there are a number of veterans including defender Denis Caniza, captain Carlos Gamarra and forward Jose Cardozo, who is the old man of the squad at 36.  However, there are also a number of youngsters including 18-year-old midfielder Jose Montiel and key strikers Santa Cruz, who is 25, and 22-year-old Haedo Valdez.

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CG