| In South America like in Europe, football is played all | | | | frequency to the world cup which they have done so |
| around the continent yet unlike in Europe; only | | | | with relative ease in a fashion to include victories over |
| Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have achieved any real | | | | both Argentina and Brazil. Paraguay even on more |
| success in the world cup. As it is, only these three | | | | than one occasion qualifying in first place in the South |
| teams have ever won a final or even reached one for | | | | American group which includes all ten countries of the |
| that matter. This being the case, since apart from them | | | | continent yet it is in spite of this that they have yet to |
| the only other South American nation to ever enter the | | | | advance as far as the quarterfinals in a world cup |
| semifinal was Chile, who accomplished the feat in the | | | | though they were ever so close in 98. It being in |
| World Cup in 62, which they also hosted yet since | | | | France 98 where Paraguay in the second round took |
| then has failed to return to the semifinals. | | | | the host nation as well as eventual tournament |
| As for Uruguay, though they hold two world cup titles | | | | winners in to overtime; before being beat by a late |
| along with two fourth places, it would be hard to say | | | | golden goal by French defender Lauren Blanc. This |
| that they are a team which has enjoyed any real | | | | after having qualified ahead of both Spain and Bulgaria |
| success in the last few decades since their last world | | | | in their first round group. |
| cup title was in 1950 and the last time they ventured in | | | | Paraguay would come back in the 2002 World Cup |
| to the quarterfinals or further was in 1970. With this in | | | | and again they would qualify to the second round yet |
| mind, it would be safe to say that the only teams of | | | | unfortunately theirs would be to loose to Germany by |
| any real success in South America as far as the | | | | 1-0. This thanks to an almost last minute goal by |
| world cup is concerned are Argentina and Brazil. As | | | | Neuville. The last world cup in 2006 also saw |
| they are the ones, who are contenders in every world | | | | Paraguay qualify but unfortunately theirs would be to |
| cup they play in yet I wonder what is it about the rest | | | | be eliminated in the first round yet in all they did prove |
| of the nations of South America that (with the sole | | | | that they could at least get to a world cup; despite |
| exception of Chile in 62) does not allow them to go | | | | having a team which was weak for their standards. |
| beyond the quarterfinals in a world cup? | | | | Paraguay once again will be back in South Africa 2010 |
| Football after all, is the main sport in all South American | | | | and I believe their time has finally come to proof to the |
| countries (except Venezuela) and it is basically played | | | | world that they too like Argentina and Brazil are a |
| with equal passion and talent through out the southern | | | | power house in football. This being the case since |
| continent of the Americas. This being the case that on | | | | what else could a team with a player of the quality of |
| more than one occasion Argentina and Brazil have lost | | | | Santa Cruz and several others be considered? I |
| to countries like Paraguay, Chile, Colombia and | | | | however for my part only hope they do not turn on |
| Ecuador which have even won the South American | | | | the qualities which they have yet to fully show in the |
| cup of nations and have had teams which have won | | | | world cup against Italy; who is also in their first round |
| the Copa Libertadores (the South American | | | | group along with New Zealand and Slovakia. |
| Champions League) yet it is in the world cup where | | | | In conclusion, I will say that Paraguay is a team who |
| the success of these nations has been as limited as | | | | should never be underestimated by any country; as |
| those from the African continent. For my part | | | | they posses the elegant ball control of South |
| however it would be hard to ascertain the reasons as | | | | American football along with a spirit that will not let |
| to why this is yet in this I see Paraguay emerging as a | | | | them surrender even when other teams might have |
| future power of not only South American but world | | | | conceded defeat. I furthermore will claim that it is high |
| football. As they have qualified to not only their fourth | | | | time that a team from South America; other than |
| consecutive world cup but the eighth in their football | | | | Argentina or Brazil showed great football. As it would |
| history. | | | | be safe to say that Uruguay, who did not even qualify |
| Paraguay for many years however has been over | | | | to the last world cup and had to play in an additional |
| shadowed by their neighbors Argentina, Brazil and | | | | elimination round after having finished fifth in South |
| Uruguay, after all they have not had anywhere near | | | | America; is no longer among the world's best. As for |
| the success in world cups as their fellow South | | | | other countries in South America, Ecuador did well to |
| Americans yet they are not without their triumphs as | | | | get to the second round in the last world cup but failed |
| was the case in 1979 when they won the South | | | | to qualify for this year's tournament in South Africa. |
| American championship for the second time. Club wise | | | | Chile did manage to qualify yet I would not count on |
| Paraguay's Olympia of Asuncion has also managed to | | | | them doing much as they have not won a world cup |
| win the Copa Libertadores on three occasions while | | | | match since they organized the tournament back in 62. |
| arriving to the final on four occasions which in and of it | | | | As a footnote, it was Paraguay's goalkeeper; Chilabert |
| self is a huge success considering they do not posses | | | | who in 98, apart from making more than a few |
| the budget of clubs from Argentina or Brazil and | | | | spectacular saves, was the first goalkeeper to actually |
| needless to say those of Europe. All of which leading | | | | take a free kick for his team. This being something he |
| to the belief that talent for the game is to be found in | | | | had a habit of doing for his team, Velez Arfield; for |
| Paraguay as well as many to ask when their moment | | | | whom he scored many a goal; this being not only from |
| will come to go beyond the quarterfinals in a world cup. | | | | free kicks but the penalty spot. He even scoring a last |
| Paraguay however, despite having enormous potential, | | | | minute equalizer from a free kick against Argentina in |
| only recently has become a team to qualify with | | | | a qualification match for France 98. |