World Cup: Paraguay
(Jorge Saenz / AP)
Paraguay's national team poses before a qualifying match against Bolivia on Sept. 5, 2009, in Asuncion.
Men's ranking: 23
Overall World Cup record: 6-9-7
Coach: Gerardo Martino
Best performance: Second round, 1986, 1998, 2002
Overview: Paraguay, making its eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, reached the round of 16 in 1998 and 2002 and is coming off a qualifying campaign that saw it win a South American-best 10 games. But seven of those wins came in Paraguay and the World Cup won't be played there. Plus Argentine Coach Gerardo Martino will be missing play-making forward Salvador Cabanas, who is still recovering from a gunshot to the head in a Mexico City bar. -- Kevin Baxter