FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Paraguay’s coach Paulo Cesar Carpegiani is hoping some Brazilian magic can rub off on his men as he plots how to turn them into world beaters in France this summer.

The 49-year-old built his reputation by leading Flamengo of Rio to the Copa Libertadores in 1981 having starred for the club as a player. Hence the Brazilian touch, for Carpegiani is not a Paraguayan at all but hails from Erexim, deep within the territory of the four-times winners and holders.

He took over the reins at Paraguay shortly before their qualifying campaign began in the spring of 1996 and immediately imposed his ideas of tough discipline and teamwork. That proved a successful recipe and Paraguay snatched second place behind Argentina after a marathon 16-match campaign, some achievement after defeats on the road by Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.

Expectations are fairly low, which could help Carpegiani’s cause. Paraguay are very much the poor relations of South American football having failed to reach the finals since making the second round for the first and only time 12 years ago in Mexico. That campaign ended with a 3-0 mauling by England.And their Copa America record shows just one win—in 1953. But Carpegiani, has built a balanced side with a strong backbone of Argentina-based Jose Luis Chilavert, seen by many as the best keeper in the world, commanding a miserly defence and Roberto Acuna of Spanish side Zaragoza pulling the strings in the middle.

The key weakness is up front, following only 21 goals in the 16 qualifiers. Carpegiani acknowledges the problem but his stamina and enthusiasm know no bounds. He explains: “We will take each game as it comes and go as far as we can. But we will play it our way and play to win.”