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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Jose Luis Chilavert
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(Velez Sarsfield, Argentina), age 31, 36 caps
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Remarkable goalkeeper who regularly scores from free kicks
and penalties and enjoys winding up opponents with provocative,
outspoken comments off the field. Particularly enjoys jibes
aimed at Argentina where he plays his club football. His
presence gives the team a huge psychological boost. Claims he is
the world's best goalkeeper. Team captain.
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Ruben Ruiz
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(Monterrey), 28, 11 caps
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Lacks Chilavert's
flamboyance although some claim that technically he is a better
goalkeeper. Recently fined $15,000 by the Paraguayan football
association for missing a tour to the United States.
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Danilo Aceval
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(Union), 22. 3 caps
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Third-choice goalkeeper
but one who has shown a lot of promise.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Francisco Arce
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(Palmeiras, Brazil), 28, 26 caps
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Full-back
who is also a dead ball specialist and an excellent crosser.
Probably the best right-back playing in Brazilian football. Won
the South American Libertadores Cup with Gremio in 1995.
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Celso Ayala
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(River Plate, Argentina), 27, 39 caps
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An
experienced central defender who is also a useful attacking
option at corners and free kicks. Won the South American
Libertadores Cup with his club in 1996.
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Carlos Gamarra
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(Corinthians, Brazil), 27, 44 caps
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World
class defender who is recognized as one of the best currently
playing in Brazil. Joined Corinthians after a brief stint in
Portugal with Benfica. Before that he spent 18 months with
Brazilian club Internacional.
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Juan Carlos Villamayor
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(Atletico Celaya), 29, 11 caps
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Can
play in either full-back decision. He played in four of
Paraguay's World Cup qualifiers but if he makes the squad will
probably be a reserve. Had an unhappy spell with Brazilian club
Corinthians last year, when he spent most of the time on the
bench.
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Catalino Rivarola
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(Gremio, Brazil), 33, 45 caps
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Uncompromising if rather uncultured central defender who was
instrumental in Paraguay's World Cup qualifying campaign and in
helping his club win the Libertadores Cup in 1995. Prone to red
cards, including one in the World Club championship final
against Ajax.
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Juan Ramon Jara
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(Rosario Central, Argentina), 27, 18 caps
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Left-footed player based in Argentina, who can play either in
midfield or at left-back. A regular during the mid-1990s, he has
recently found himself shunted out of the starting line-up.
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Arnaldo Espindola
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(Internacional, Brazil) 22, 3 caps
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Joined
the Brazilian club last year and has made the transition to a
very demanding country smoothly. Still inexperienced at
international level.
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Ricardo Rojas
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(Estudiantes, Argentina), 27, 5 caps
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Reserve
full-back who pulls no punches when tackling.
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Pedro Sarabia
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(River Plate), 22 (23 on July 5), 16 caps
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Reserve defender who played in River Plate's Argentine
championship-winning team last year. Scored in friendly defeat
by Italy on April 22.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Estanislao Struway
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(Coritiba), 29 (30 on June 25), 18 caps
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Volatile ball-winning midfielder who has been in and out of the
national team for the best part of a decade. Recently fired by
Brazilian club Portuguesa after he threw his shirt on the ground
in disgust at being substituted and was promptly sent off,
reducing the team to 10 men.
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Roberto Acuna
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(Real Zaragoza, Spain), 26, 40 caps
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Paraguay's playmaker in a team rather short on creativity in
midfield. He was born in Argentina of Paraguayan parents and
spent much of his career with Independiente before his move to
Spain. A regular in the World Cup qualifying campaign and takes
the penalties when Chilavert is not playing.
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Jorge Alcaraz
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(Cerro Porteno), 29 (30 on July 4), 12 caps
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Occasional substitute in the midfield.
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Harles Boudier
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(Union, Argentina), 25, 12 caps
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Attacking
midfielder used mainly as a substitute by the national team.
Made his name with Asuncion's Olimpia before joining Union and
becoming of the legion of Paraguayans playing in Argentina this
year.
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Hugo Brizuela
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(Argentinos Juniors, Argentina), 27, 7 caps
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Attacking midfielder who was used occasionally during the World
Cup qualifiers.
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Julio Cesar Romero
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(Sportivo Luqueno), 38, 66 caps
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Surprisingly recalled to the national team this year for a
friendly with Argentine club Boca Juniors, Romero, nicknamed
Romerito, is one of most talented players the country has ever
produced. Spent much of his career in Brazil where he got his
nickname and a survivor from Paraguay's 1986 World Cup team.
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Gustavo Sotelo
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(Guarany), 30, 13 caps
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Another player who
has been used in a midfield that has been chopped and changed
regularly throughout the last two years. Plays for one of the
less traditional Asuncion clubs.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Jose Cardozo
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(Necaxa), 27, 12 caps
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Played in six of
Paraguay's World Cup qualifiers scoring one goal. Recently fined
$15,000 by the Paraguayan federation for missing the tour to the
United States. Cardozo said he was injured but the federation
suspected he preferred to play for his Mexican club.
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Derlis Soto
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(Guarany), 25, 11 caps
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Forward who likes to get
involved in the action and has been rewarded with important
goals for both his club and country.
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Arisitides Rojas
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(Union), 28, 31 caps
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Despite his age, he
is a relative newcomer to international soccer. Scored three
goals in the World Cup qualifiers and -- apart from Chilavert --
is probably the team's most dangerous goal scorer.
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Hugo Ovelar
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(Cerro Porteno), 26, 3 caps
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Given a run out in
the national team last year after scoring important goals in
club soccer, firstly for Guarany, his previous club, and now for
Cerro Porteno, one of the traditional powers of Paraguayan
soccer.
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Miguel Benitez
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(Espanyol, Spain), 27 (28 on May 19), 28 caps
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Paraguay's top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with four
goals, despite initially being excluded from the squad over a
row with the LPF, the Paraguayan federation. He has become
highly frustrated at being left on the bench this season at his
Spanish club, which he wants to leave. 'I am the best striker
(coach Jose) Camacho has and I don't understand why I am not in
the starting line-up,' he said.
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Francisco Esteche
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(Olimpia), 24, 19 caps
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Reserve striker.
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