Paraguay at a glance: La Albirroja rediscover their stingy game with back-to-back shutouts

Paraguay made its World Cup debut in the initial tournament, in 1930 in Uruguay. The Paraguayans lost to the United States, 3-0, in their debut, then blanked Belgium, 1-0.

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During the ’30s, Arsenio Erico, considered the country’s greatest player and recognized as originator of the scorpion kick, emerged during the Chaco War. Erico, though, spent his career with Independiente in Argentina, and never played for the full national team, which used only home-based players. Erico also refused a mega-offer to play for the Argentines.

Paraguay finished second in the 1947 and ’49 Copa America, led by forwards Dionisio Arce and Jorge Benitez. In the 1958 World Cup, a 3-2 lead was squandered on the way to a 7-3 loss to France, followed by victory over Scotland (3-2) and tie with Yugoslavia (3-3). That team featured 20-year-old Cayetano Ré, who went on to compete for Barcelona and coached Paraguay in the 1986 World Cup — the first time La Albirroja advanced to the elimination stage. Roberto Cabañas, who teamed with Julio César “Romerito” Romero with the New York Cosmos, scored twice in a 2-2 tie with the Belgians in Toluca, Mexico.

In the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, keeper José Luis Chilavert, José Saturnino Cardozo, and all-time leading scorer Roque Santa Cruz led the way as La Albirroja advanced from group play. Argentinean Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who would later lead Atlanta United to the MLS Cup title and has returned to the team this season, guided Paraguay to its best World Cup finish, reaching the 2010 quarterfinals in South Africa.

With a back line led by Antolin Alcaraz and Paulo da Silva, the Paraguayans won their group, ahead of Slovakia, New Zealand, and Italy. In the Round of 16, Justo Villar made a save as they defeated Japan on penalties, before being eliminated by Spain, 1-0, on an 83rd-minute David Villa goal. Paraguay surrendered only two goals in five matches, compiling a 410-minute shutout streak.

Martino also took Paraguay to the 2011 Copa America final, a 3-0 loss to Uruguay. Despite failing to win a game, it had three group stage ties and then took out Brazil and Venezuela on penalties in the elimination rounds.

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This year, Gustavo Alfaro returned the team to the World Cup finals, building the defense around Brazil-based captain Gustavo Gomez. In qualifying, Paraguay surrendered 10 goals in 18 games, tied with Argentina for second best in CONMEBOL. The Paraguayans scored 14 goals, tied with Ecuador for second-lowest, led by Tony Sanabria’s four tallies.

Alfaro went from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 setup, switching after Atlanta United’s Miguel Almirón was suspended. The attack goes through 22-year-old Julio Enciso of RC Strasbourg in France’s Ligue 1.

Paraguay was the victim of the World Cup’s first hat trick, scored by Fall River’s Bert Patenaude in the Americans’ 3-0 win at Parque Central in Montevideo on July 17, 1930.

Population: 6.4 million

Square miles: 157,000

Nickname: La Albirroja

World Cup hero: Jose Luis Chilavert

Player to watch: Julio Enciso

Leading scorer: Roque Santa Cruz (32 goals)

Coach: Gustavo Alfaro, 63 (Rafaela, Argentina)

World Cup record: Ninth appearance (8-11-11)

Best finish: Quarterfinals (2010)

Schedule: Monday, Round of 32 v. Germany (Foxborough, 6 p.m.)

Formation: 3-5-2 (Gill; Velasquez, G. Gomez, Alderete; Caceres, Galarza, D. Gomez, Cubas, Maidana; Enciso, Avalos)

How they got here: La Albirroja recovered from a 4-1 opening-game loss to Team USA by eliminating Türkiye with a 1-0 win on a Matias Galarza goal, then held on with a man disadvantage after Almiron’s first-half injury-time red card for covering his mouth while talking. Paraguay concluded group play with a 0-0 tie with Australia.

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