Paraguay squad for March friendlies

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by kokoplus10, Mar 18, 2011.

  1. kokoplus10

    kokoplus10 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 5, 2008
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/18/paraguay.squad.ap/index.html

    Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno).

    Defedners: Paulo Da Silva (Zaragoza), Victor Hugo Mareco (Brescia), Marcos Caceres (Racing), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Dario Veron (Pumas), Miguel Samudio (Libertad).

    Midfielders: Enrique Vera (Liga de Quito), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys), Osmar Molinas (Olimpia), Cristian Riveros (Sunderland), Nestor Ortigoza (San Lorenzo), Celso Ortiz (AZ Alkmaar), Edgar Barreto (Atalanta).

    Forwards: Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca); Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund).
     
  2. Converted54

    Converted54 Member

    Aug 12, 2010
    Club:
    Sacramento Republic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cardozo and Barrios have the potential to light our defense up. It'll be an interesting game...
     
  3. Wessoman

    Wessoman Member+

    Sep 26, 2005
    Austin, TX
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good lord that's a strong lineup. (Note to self: Always schedule friendlies with South American teams in Copa American years)
     
  4. Zitor

    Zitor New Member

    Nov 21, 2004
    Chicago
    What is interesting to me is to see that many teams from many countries will be somehow represented in this game. But at the end of the day it will be only the coaching philosophy or the 'application of what he wants to get out of his team' that will prevail. It could be a boring 4-0 or an exciting 0-0. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholders.
     
  5. LongDuckDong

    LongDuckDong Member+

    Jan 26, 2011
    Club:
    FC Schalke 04
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's certainly strong, but I wouldn't say it's any stronger than Mexico's line-up (outside Barios).

    Quite frankly, many of their midfielders wouldn't be good enough to play for the US consistently, while our forwards wouldn't be good enough to play for them.

    Our defenses are evenly weak (although, I could never see us calling in a Serie B guy for an "A" team friendly). Serie B is significantly worse than the 2. Bundesliga and the Championship.
     
  6. Wessoman

    Wessoman Member+

    Sep 26, 2005
    Austin, TX
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with your assessment, but the thing is that the US will probably play the second XI against them. While Holden/Jones/Bradley etc would tear up those guys, guys like Kljestan, Diskerud, and Feilhaber are really going to be tested mightily by the Paraguayans.

    Since Holden is injured, I think Torres should be called in. A Torres/Edu midfield, with Feilhaber and Diskerud on the wings, might be a good formation to give Paraguay a decent game.

    In fact, I like this 4-4-1-1 idea:

    --------------------------Agudelo-----------------------------
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------------Kljestan-----------------------------
    Diskerud-----------------------------------------------Feilhaber
    ---------------Torres------------------------------------------
    ---------------------------------------Edu---------------------
    Bornstein-------------------------------------------------Lichaj
    ------------------Ream-------------DeMerit--------------------
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    ---------------------------Yelldell------------------------------

    This would allow Diskerud, Kljestan and Feilhaber to keep switching positions where needed to keep Paraguay on their heels. Torres plays a more limited Possession role to keep feeding Mix, Sasha and Benny. Edu is the enforcer but will push up on the counterattack with JB and Lichaj. We have to take advantage of Edu's speed if we are going to survive.

    The only way we are going to keep Barreto and Riveros from running us ragged would be to keep moving and keep attacking. I genuinely believe that Paulo di Silva and Dario Veron lack pace and may struggle a bit with an attack let by Diskerud, Kljestan and Agudelo. The key is Torres and Edu combining. Without Holden, the USA needs a quality central mid not named Bradley (He will be too gassed against Argentina, believe me), and I don't think (As much as I like him) that Dax McCarty or Ricardo Clark have the distribution ability to keep up with Paraguay.
     
  7. Zitor

    Zitor New Member

    Nov 21, 2004
    Chicago
    :eek: "While Holden/Jones/Bradley etc would tear up those guys, guys like..."

    just like Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Pedro, Fernando Torres... A.K.A the World Champs SA2010 did?
     
  8. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--

    Paraguay is one of those teams where the sum of the parts is always better than the individuals. They play very well together as a team and are VERY organized, deadly on counter attacks, and lethal on set pieces...

    ...so we better be really careful against them.
     
  9. fuentga

    fuentga New Member

    Aug 12, 2002
    Buenos Aires
    Strong team...also Ortigoza (Argentine) is a strong midfielder. This will be a good test for any team, let alone the US
     
  10. dna77054

    dna77054 Member+

    Jun 28, 2003
    houston
    (sound like the US, but Paraguay is probably less athletic. but more skilled on the ball)

    You post rings very true. Additionally, they are capable of just more that just set pieces and counter attacks. They dominated possession and controlled the game against both Slovakia (who got their first shot on goal in added time) and a very good Japan (who completely outclassed Denmark) Japan resorted to defending with 8 players right in front of their penalty box. Paraguay was also a missed penalty away from probably ousting Spain.

    Having said all that, it is important to note that everything above refers to tournament/qualifiers Paraguay. (in qualifying they outscored both Argentina and Brazil in their head to head contests). However, friendly Paraguay is a different animal that often just phones it in, expect for preWC friendlies in Europe. I see the US putting more effort into a this game against a Paraguay in friendly mode and getting a multigoal victory. If we were to see them in the WC, it would be a very different looking game.
     
  11. dna77054

    dna77054 Member+

    Jun 28, 2003
    houston
    Brescia is currently in Seria A. Paraguay gave up 2 goals in 5 WC games. In Qualifying, Brazil could only get 1 goal against Paraguay in 180 minutes over 2 games. How many did Brazil put by us in 180 minutes in Confed Cup? They allowed the second fewest goals in Conmebol qualifying. Their defense is not weak.

    Although they may be similar to Mexico in quality of player, they do defend set pieces better and typically do not allow acres of space for a counter-attack. I still expect us to win (see my previous post).
     
  12. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Spot on for the most part.

    You are right that they usually don't get good results in friendlies...

    ...but...

    ...I would like to mention though the last time they prepared for a Copa America they shocked Mexico 1-0 in the Azteca on a nice counter attack goal by Roque Santa Cruz.

    So based on that we really better be careful.
     
  13. EL MONO MARIO

    EL MONO MARIO Member

    Apr 9, 2002
    Montevideo, Uruguay
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This will be an all out fight / Brawl kind of game, The US should be able to beat Paraguay... A difficult but not by the least over powering opponent. We should win this game.
     
  14. LiverAndPineapple

    May 7, 2008
    Paraguay getting absolutely worked by Mehico. 3-0 and it's not even halftime
     
  15. sidefootsitter

    sidefootsitter Member+

    Oct 14, 2004
    Did they wake up yet?

    If they did, here's a memo - mark Chicharito. I hear he is quite good.
     
  16. Futbol_Head

    Futbol_Head Member+

    Manchester United
    Aug 18, 2007
    Bay Area, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Naaah...he's an average Sunday League player, at best.
     
  17. soccerdisciple

    Mar 8, 2004
    We need technical mids. Holden, Torres, who else? Our current mids are good at def but suck at ball possession and passing.
     

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