FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

While they say no single player is indispensable, Jose Luis Chilavert goes a long way to disproving that theory.

Chilavert is a fiery one man band – goalkeeper extraordinaire, irrepressible captain, penalty taker. Temperamental and indispensable too — the 32-year-old was handed a four match ban for brawling, games the Paraguayans subsequently lost.

Paraguay qualified for their fifth finals as surprise runners-up to Argentina in the arduous South American division showing their mettle with victory over Colombia and a draw with Argentina.

Overseeing the Paraguayan campaign was Brazilian Paulo Cesar Carpegiani, who reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to move to Flamengo last year.

Carpegiani won 16 caps for Brazil and was in charge at Flamengo when they saw off Liverpool to win the 1981 world club championship.

While there is little in defence to keep him awake with worry at night — Chilavert is ably assisted by the ultra experienced Francisco Arce at full back — Carpegiani does have a problem up front with the absence of a top goalscorer.

Miguel Angel Benitez of Espanyol can put them away and was leading scorer in the qualifying round with four goals but seasoned hitman Aristides Rojas underachieved in the entry stage with only three goals to his name while Jose Caridos only managed one in six matches.

In midfield Roberto Acuna plays a huge role. A hard grafter Acuna has earned the nickname El Toro, the bull.

Paraguay are playing in their first finals since Mexico when they fell victims to England in the second round.

In France they face Bulgaria, Spain and Nigeria, with Chilavert, who certainly knows how to talk a good fight, predicting his team was on course for a good summer.