Paraguay vows to give all in World Cup
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Currently rated 30th in the FIFA rankings, Paraguay will give all in their seventh World Cup appearance.
The team, coached by Gerardo "Tata" Martino, is looking to improve on their previous performance in the world's largest stage of soccer.
In 1930, Paraguay achieved their best finish in the competition, placing ninth. In the last edition of the World Cup in Germany in 2006, Paraguay finished 18th.
Paraguay made it to the 2010 World Cup by finishing third in the South American qualifiers with 33 points. The national team produced a 10-3-5 record, trailing Brazil and Chile. Argentina rounded out the four-team qualification.
Paraguay's head coach Martino recently announced the following 30-man advance list.
Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid-Spain), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin-Colombia) and Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno).
Defenders: Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors-Argentina), Denis Caniza (Leon-Mexico), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland-England), Dario Veron (Pumas-Mexico), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Julio Manzur (Tigres-Argentina), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo-Argentina), Marcos Caceres (Racing-Argentina), Antolin Alcaraz (Brugges-Belgium).
Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta-Italy), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul-Mexico), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey-Mexico), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (LDU-Ecuador), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg-Germany), Sergio Aquino (Libertad), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus-Argentina), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors-Argentina, Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys-Argentina).
Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City-England), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund-Germany), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica-Portugal), Edgar Benitez (Toluca-Mexico), Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund-Germany), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad), Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys-Argentina)
The Paraguayans will begin their collective training on May 14 in the French city of Evian les Bains. During their stay in France, they will participate in four friendlies against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire and Greece.
Paraguay's leading scorer throughout the South American qualifiers, 29-year-old Salvador Cabanas, is in doubt after he was shot in the head in a bar argument in January.
"We have hope that he will return to play," said his agent Jose Maria Gonzalez. "We don't know if it will be in time for the World Cup, but he is close to returning to the field. Regardless, he will be alongside his teammates supporting them."
Paraguay's surprise invitation to the national team was Argentinean native Lucas Barrios, who just received his dual citizenship. He stands to replace Cabanas at front.
Barrios made a name after scoring a record 37 goals for the Chilean team Colo-Colo in 2008.
Paraguay, in Group F, will kick off on June 14 against reigning champion Italy. The will face Slovakia on June 20 and play their last group match against New Zealand.
