Paraguay
Odds to win: 150/1
Overview
Paraguay are a South American side with a proud World Cup tradition built on defensive resilience, physical toughness, and an ability to grind out results in tight matches. La Albirroja have historically been one of the most difficult teams to beat in South American football, known for their goalkeeper tradition and organized backline. Their squad features players from South American and European leagues, with a blend of experience and emerging talent. Paraguay's style remains pragmatic and compact, relying on disciplined defensive structure and the ability to strike efficiently on the counter-attack. Under their current setup, Paraguay will look to rediscover the form that took them to the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals.
Key Players
Miguel Almiron
Midfielder · Atlanta United
Julio Enciso
Forward · Brighton
Gustavo Gomez
Defender · Palmeiras
World Cup History
Paraguay have appeared at eight World Cups, with their best result being a quarterfinal appearance in 2010 in South Africa, where they were eliminated by Spain. They also reached the round of 16 in 1998 and 2002. Paraguay's World Cup history is characterized by defensive solidity, with memorable goalkeeper performances from Jose Luis Chilavert and Justo Villar. They did not qualify for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.
Group D Opponents
Fun Fact
Jose Luis Chilavert, Paraguay's legendary goalkeeper, was famous for taking free kicks and penalties, scoring over 60 goals in his career including eight for the national team, making him one of the highest-scoring goalkeepers in football history.
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