During the penultimate round of CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on Thursday night, Paraguay secured their spot at a World Cup finals for the first time since the 2010 edition in South Africa, with a 0-0 draw at home to Ecuador.
In that tournament, the South Americans managed to reach the quarter-finals, topping a group that included Italy, before beating Japan on penalties in the round of 16. They narrowly lost 1-0 to eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals.
This was a bit of a golden era for the national team, who reached the Copa America final 12 months later, going further than Argentina and Brazil, beating the latter on their way to the final.
Ironically, in 2010, they were in a group with New Zealand – who have also qualified for this tournament for the first time since then. Without pouring cold water on either team’s achievement, they have both been beneficiaries of the extended format.
Previously, the best team in OFC qualifying would have to play an inter confederation play-off tie to progress to the finals. Over the last three qualification campaigns, New Zealand lost to Mexico, Peru and Costa Rica.
Meanwhile, Paraguay currently sit in sixth place in CONMEBOL qualifying, which is the final guaranteed qualification spot, with seventh place entering the inter confederation play offs.
In previous qualifying campaigns, sixth place would not even be enough for a play-off spot. With the 32 team finals, South America were granted four guaranteed berths and a play off spot, instead off the six berths plus a play off spot that it is now.
During 2014 qualification, Paraguay finished 9th (bottom, as Brazil did not have to qualify), in 2018 they finished 7th, and in 2022 they finished 8th. So there has been clear progression, regardless of the easier qualification route.
There are no superstars as such in their side, they are quite a workmanlike team. Former Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron is their most notable player.
But there is also Omar Alderete of Sunderland, Diego Gomez of Brighton and Hove Albion, as well as captain Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras. They are built on a solid defence, having conceded just 10 goals in 17 qualifiers. One more than Argentina, and fewer than Brazil and Uruguay.
It’s exciting to see teams that haven’t qualified for a while make the finals. Whether it be debutants or sides like Paraguay that have not qualified since 2010. We are of course going to see at least 16 teams that weren’t in Qatar, but the more new faces the bigger the novelty and mystique is.
Paraguay’s last World Cup featured Roque Santa Cruz, who is 44 now. Long since retired, you assume. But no. The former Blackburn Rovers striker is still playing in his native country for Libertad. He made his debut for the national team in the 20th century.
He has not played for his country since 2016, but you never know. A return would be pretty incredible, and would surely make him the only ever player to play in World Cup finals 24 years apart.
Certainly a team to look out for over in North America next summer.
