Paraguay revel in underdog role, says coach

DORNBIRN, Austria, Jun 1: Paraguay are happy to be considered the underdogs in their opening World Cup match against England and their coach is confident the South Americans can pull off an upset victory on June 10.

Speaking after a 1-0 win over Georgia in their final warm-up game on Wednesday, Anibal Ruiz said his side were used to being cast as outsiders in regular meetings with their larger neighbours Brazil and Argentina.

''It's always been like this, it's a very special motivation and incentive for us,'' he told Reuters.

''The Paraguayans are strong and they will know how to get over the difficulties which England present to us.'' Drawn in Group B, Paraguay have been given little chance of getting a result against England in Frankfurt, especially after three unimpressive matches in Europe, which began with draws in Norway and Denmark.

Sweden and Trinidad&Tobago are the other teams in their first-round pool.

''We've got nothing to say,'' said Ruiz, responding to suggestions that his team posed little threat to England and Sweden.

''The only thing for us to do is to keep working and put out a good team.'' ''We're used to this and it's not going to influence anything. We're very respectful of England and everything they represent but we're confident of getting a good result.'' A landlocked nation of five million and one of the poorest in South America, Paraguay have, nevertheless, qualified for three World Cups in a row and reached the last sixteen on the last two occasions.

They have beaten Brazil twice since the 2002 World Cup -- in a friendly in Fortaleza and during the 2004 Copa America -- while their two qualifying matches against Argentina produced a goalless draw in Buenos Aires and a 1-0 win in Asuncion.

Ruiz said that one of his team's biggest problems was that they had lost momentum since the qualifying competition ended last October.

In particular, playmaker Julio dos Santos, who had hit form at the time, has been consigned to the reserves since joining Germany's Bayern Munich from Cerro Porteno.

''This broke the rhythm of the team,'' Ruiz added. ''There are players who were doing really well... and now we are fighting to get them back to form.'' ''Of course, it (reserve team football) has had a big influence on his performances, but we're confident we can do help him regain form''.

Ruiz was also confident Roque Santa Cruz, who also plays for Bayern, would be fit to face England after a run of injuries.

Santa Cruz missed most of the Bundesliga season after undergoing an operation on his right knee and has recently been hit by tendonitis in the same joint.

''Roque will be there without any problem,'' Ruiz said.

REUTERS