- Copa America Centenario
Get To Know Los Guarines
By: Sean Murphy
FIFA World Rankings 39
Odds To Win The Tournament Current 50/1 (SkyBet) (Opened at 40/1 at William Hill US & Westgate)
Odds to Win Copa America Group A 8/1
Nicknames - Los Guarines & La Albirroja (Red & White)
This will be the 16th Copa America Tournament since 1975 for Los Guarines. Paraguay has won the Tournament once 1975, finished 2nd once 2011, and Third once 1983. Paraguay played one Friendly in the lead-up to Copa America, a 1-0 loss to Mexico on 5/28/16 in Atlanta Georgia. Paraguay is coming off two CONMEBOL Draws in March 2-2 @ Ecuador and 2-2 vs. Brazil.
Paraguay is placed in Group A of Copa America where they will face Costa Rica 6/4, Colombia 6/7, & USA 6/11. Paraguay are seen as outside favorites to advance from Group A but shouldn't be taken lightly as they've consistently produced good result in South America for the past few years. Paraguay are led by Veteran World Cup Star Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga). Other stars for La Albirroja include Miguel Samiudo (America), Ivan Piris (Udinese), Celso Ortiz (AZ Alkmaar), Edgar Benitez (Queretaro), Dario Lezcano (FC Inglostadt 04), & Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga).
Star Players - Miguel Samiudo (America), Ivan Piris (Udinese), Celso Ortiz (AZ Alkmaar), Edgar Benitez (Queretaro), Dario Lezcano (FC Inglostadt 04), Roque Santa Cruz (Malaga)
Potential Breakout Star Players - Blas Riveros (FC Basel), Bruno Valdez (America), Miguel Almiron (FC Lanus), Oscar Romero (Racing Club), Jorge Benitez (Cruz Azul), Derlis Gonzalez (Dynamo Kiev), Juan Manuel Iturbe (AS Roma/at AFC Bournemouth on Loan)
Manager Profile - Ramon Diaz has managed Paraguay since 2014 guiding Los Guarines to a 4th place finish in Copa America 2015. Ramon Diaz has decided to field a team predominantly based in South America and Mexico. Only 5 European Based players have been called into the team. Ramon Diaz previously Managed River Plate and the Argentine is famous for his rivalry with Diego Maradona during his playing days. Ramon Diaz is known as El Pelado (Baldy).
Roster
Player Info, Age, 2015-2016 Club Stats
Goal Keepers
GK Diego Barreto Age 34 (Olimpia-Paraguay)
GK Antony Silva Age 32 (Cerro Porteno-Paraguay) 53 Appearances
GK Justo Villar Age 38 (Colo Colo-Chile)
Defenders
D Fabian Balbuena Age 24 (Corinthians-Brazil) 13 Appearances
D Gustavo Gomez Age 23 (Lanus-Argentina) 15 Appearances
D Blas Riveros Age 18 (FC Basel-Switzerland set to join after Copa America) 11 Appearances
D Miguel Samuido Age 29 (America-Mexico) 40 Appearances
D Paulo Da Silva Age 36 (Toluca-Mexico) 21 Appearances 1 Goal
D Bruno Valdez Age 23 (America-Mexico set to join after Copa America) 44 Appearances 2 Goals
D Ivan Piris Age 27 (Udinese-Italy) 27 Appearances
Midfielders
M Miguel Almiron Age 22 (FC Lanus-Argentina) 12 Appearances 2 Goals 2 Assists
M Celso Ortiz Age 27 (AZ Akmaar-Holland) 25 Appearances
M Robert Piris Da Motta Age 21 (Olimpia-Paraguay) 30 Appearances 2 Goals
M Rodrigo Rojas Age 28 (Cerro Porteno-Paraguay) 38 Appearances 3 Goals
M Oscar Romero Age 23 (Racing Club-Argentina) 10 Appearances 4 Goals 3 Assists (2016 Stats Only)
M Victor Ayala Age 28 (FC Lanus-Argentina) 12 Appearances 1 Goal (2016 Stats Only)
Forwards
F Edgar Benitez Age 28 (Queretaro-Mexico) 17 Appearances 3 Goals 4 Assists
F Jorge Benitez Age 23 (Cruz Azul-Mexico) 25 Appearances 11 Goals 5 Assists
F Derlis Gonzalez Age (Dynamo Kiev-Ukraine) 15 Appearances 2 Goals 1 Assist
F Juan Manuel Iturbe Age 22 (AS Roma-Italy on Loan at AFC Bournemouth-England) 21 Appearances 1 Goal between AS Roma & AFC Bournemouth
F Dario Lezcano Age 25 (FC Inglostadt 04-Germany) 17 Appearances 2 Goals 1 Assist
F Roque Santa Cruz Age 34 (Malaga-Spain) 19 Appearances 3 Goals 1 Assist
F Nelson Valdez Age 32 (Seattle Sounders-USA) 22 Appearances 3 Goals 1 Assist