Paraguay World Cup training gets off to low-key start

ASUNCION, May 11 Paraguay kicked off their World Cup training programme with only two players and with coach Anibal Ruiz yet to name his final squad.

Veteran striker Jose Cardozo and Dutch-based midfielder Edgar Barreto were the only players present yesterday at the team's training camp at Ypane, outside Asuncion.

''We're waiting for more players to arrive,'' said fitness trainer Juan Carlos Tabarrelli. ''We started today and we're not stopping until July 10.'' The World Cup final is due to be played on July 9.

Other members of the Paraguay squad are expected to start showing up over the next few days.

Defender Denis Caniza and veteran midfielder Roberto Acuna are due to arrive today and Mexican-based forward Salvador Cabanas tomorrow. All three are considered certainties for Ruiz's squad, which will be named on Monday.

Paraguay, who face England, Sweden and Trinidad&Tobago in Group B, leave for Austria on May 18, where they will be based in the run-up to the tournament.

REUTERS