1800-WorldCup.com - Paraguay at France 1998

Index: World Cup Finals: France 1998: Paraguay

Paraguay in the World Cup Finals

World Cup Appearances:
France 1998 was Paraguay's 5th appearance in the World Cup Finals.

Best World Cup Performance:
Paraguay made it to the last 16 in Mexico 1986; where they lost to England.

Paraguay in the 1998 World Cup

Group D

12th June: vs. Bulgaria (0:0) in Montpelier.

19th June: vs. Spain (0:0) in St. Etienne.

24th June: vs. Nigeria (3:1) in Toulouse.

Paraguay plugged the holes at the back for their first two 0-0 draws and then beat a Nigerian reserve side in their last game; to claim second spot in the group, ahead of Spain.

Knockout Stage

2nd Round
28th June: vs. France (0:1 aet) in Lens.

Paraguay almost took France to the penalty shoot-out, where Chilavert would have felt confident, only to go out to a strike from Laurent Blanc in the 113rd minute of the second round. Excellent defending from the Paraguayans.

Paraguay World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers:

1 Jose Luis Chilavert (Velez Sarsfield)
12 Danilo Aceval (Union Santa Fe)
22 Ruben Ruiz Diaz (Monterrey)

Defenders:

2 Francisco Arce (Palmerias)
3 Catalino Rivarola (Gremio Porto Alegre)
4 Carlos Gamarra (Corinthians)
5 Celso Ayala (River Plate)
11 Pedro Sarabia (River Plate)
14 Ricardo Rojas (Estudiante)
20 Denis Caniza (Olimpia)

Midfielders:

6 Edgar Aguilera (Cerro Cora)
10 Roberto Acuna (Real Saragosse)
13 Carlos Paredes (Olimpia)
16 Julio Cesar Encisco (Inter de Porto Alegre)
19 Carlos Morales (Gimnasia de Jujuy)

Forwards:

7 Julio Cesar Yegros (Cruz Azul)
8 Aristides Rojas (Union Santa Fe)
9 Jose Cardozo (Toluca)
15 Miguel Benitez (Espanol de Barcelona)
17 Hugo Brizuela (Argentina Juniors)
18 Cesar Ramirez (Sporting Lisbon)
21 Jorge Campos (Beijing Guoan)

Trainer:
Cesar Carpegiani.

Destination Paraguay

Paraguay Travel Notes:
Find out more about Paraguay @ Travel Notes.