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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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1-Jose Luis Chilavert
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(Strasbourg) Born: 27.7.65 Caps: 69 Goals: 8
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Goalkeeper, captain, team spokesman, free-kick specialist with ambitions to be president of his country, the fiery Chilavert has been his national team's figurehead for more a decade. Has scored more than 50 goals from free kicks and penalties in his career. Will miss Paraguay's first game as he completes a three-match suspension for spitting at Brazil's Roberto Carlos in a qualifier.
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22-Ricardo Tavarelli
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(Olimpia) Born: 2.8.70 Caps: 20 Goals: 0 |
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Reserve to Chilavert, he has stepped in ably when the captain is suspended or injured. Played in the 1999 Copa America, when Paraguay hosted the event and Chilavert refused to play because he said it was a waste of public money. Has spent his entire career with Olimpia.
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12-Justo Villar
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(Libertad) Born: 30.6.77 Caps: 8 Goals: 0 |
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Third choice now behind Chilavert and Tavarelli but squeezed into the final 23 of Cesare Maldini's selection.
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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4-Carlos Gamarra
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(AEK Athens) Born: 17.2.71 Caps: 76 Goals: 5 |
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Regarded as one of the world's classiest defenders, his game is based on excellent technique, timing and anticipation rather than brawn. Famously went through the 1998 World Cup without committing a foul in four games. Has played club football also in Brazil, Paraguay and Spain.
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5-Celso Ayala
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(River Plate) Born: 20.8.70 Caps: 76 Goals 6 |
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One of South America's top defenders, strong in the air -- despite being short for a central defender -- and scores frequently from set pieces. Raised at Olimpia, he has spent most of his career in Argentina with River Plate where he has won a string of domestic titles plus one Libertadores Cup.
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3-Pedro Sarabia
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(River Plate) Born: 5.7.75 Caps: 40 Goals: 0 |
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Central defender who played in France 98. Good in the air, tough in the tackle with a powerful shot. Has won several domestic titles with River Plate since joining from modest Buenos Aires club Banfield. Began his career in Asuncion with Cerro Porteno.
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21-Denis Caniza
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(Santos Laguna) Born: 29.8.74 Caps: 49 Goals: 1 |
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Good with both feet, he can play in the center of the defense or either full-back position. After being raised at Olimpia, he has spent the last three years with Lanus in Argentina.
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2-Francisco Arce
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(Palmeiras) Born: 2.4.71 Caps: 51 Goals: 4 |
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Right-back, he rivals England's David Beckham as one of the world's best crossers of the ball. A free-kick and penalty specialist, he has spent most of his career in Brazil and has won the South American Libertadores Cup with both Gremio and Palmeiras. Has a volatile temperament.
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19-Daniel Sanabria
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(Libertad) Born 8.2.77 Caps: 6 Goals: 0 |
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Unlikely to feature, although he helped Libertad clinch the first stage of the Paraguayan championship.
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18-Julio Cesar Caceres
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(Olimpia) Born: 5.10.79 Caps: 1 Goals: 0 |
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Fell out with previous coach Sergio Markarian after refusing to play in a World Cup qualifier. Hard-tackling player who is thought likely to become a long-term successor to Gamarra.
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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13-Carlos Paredes
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(Porto) Born: 16.7.76 Caps: 41 Goals: 7 |
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Raised with Olimpia, he joined Porto for the 2000/01 season and quickly made such an impact that Spanish giant Barcelona was rumored to be interested in him. Although he performs a defensive role, his pace and passing also make him an asset in attack. Good in the air, he scored two goals from headers in the qualifiers including an injury time winner over Chile.
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14-Diego Gavilan
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(Tecos) Born: 1.3.80 Caps: 21 Goals: 0 |
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Likes to play on the right hand side of midfield. Moved to Newcastle from Cerro Porteno in 1999 but injuries prevented him from settling and he joined Mexico's UAG in 2001. Made his debut against Mexico in April 1999.
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6-Estanislao Struway
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(Libertad) Born: 25.6.68 Caps: 43 Goals: 1
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Hard-tackling midfielder who missed the 1998 World Cup despite playing in the qualifiers, he may be luckier this time after being recalled to the team during the second half of qualifying. Has had a nomadic existence at club level, playing in Brazil, Argentina and Peru before returning to his native Paraguay. Has a powerful right foot shot and a hot temper.
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8-Guido Alvarenga
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(Cerro Porteno) Born: 24.8.70 Caps: 18 Goals: 2
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Gifted attacking midfielder who has won his international place at the age of 30. Had not played in the qualifiers until he came on as a halftime substitute away to Uruguay in the second half of the campaign. Scored the winning goal within half an hour and has been a regular since.
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16-Gustavo Morinigo
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(Libertad) Born: 23.1.77 Caps: 11 Goals: 2
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Midfielder brought into the team for the 16th qualifying match at home to Argentina and responded by scoring Paraguay's second goal in a 2-2 draw. Also in the experimental squad sent to Colombia for last year's Copa America.
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10-Roberto Acuna
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(Real Zaragoza) Born: 25.3.72 Caps: 77 Goals: 5 |
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Known as "The Bull," Paraguay's midfield playmaker is heading for his second World Cup. Born in Argentina of Paraguayan parents, he is now the most capped player in his country's history, having been a regular fixture since his debut in the 1993 Copa America. Turned professional with Asuncion club Nacional, then moved back to Argentine to play for Boca Juniors before going to Zaragoza five years ago.
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15-Carlos Bonet
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(Libertad) Born: 2.10.77 Caps: 3 Goals: 0. |
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Joined Libertad this year from Atletico Rafaela where he scored twice in 23 appearances in 2001. Gives coach Maldini another option in central midfield. Plenty of energy but tends to send passes awry. Capped for the second time in May against Sweden in a surprise 2-1 win in Stockholm.
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