Paraguay takes aim at new high

Emiliano Rodriguez / Special to The Daily Yomiuri

PRETORIA--Gerardo Martino will try to to take Paraguay to new heights on Tuesday, when the Argentine coach leads his team against Japan at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Martino has been hailed as a hero in Paraguay after the team's splendid qualifying campaign to South Africa and its impressive start at the World Cup finals. The former Argentine international says he has the "highest expectations" in a "good team made up of good players" following Paraguay's parade into the last 16 as the Group F winner.

Since taking over in 2007, Martino, who has been mentored by former Argentina boss and current Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa, has managed to turn Paraguay into a first-class South American side.

The Paraguayans--nicknamed "Guaranies" after the ancient language still spoken in the country--have developed a reputation as a rock-solid defensive team boasting skilled midfielders and lethal strikers quick to capitalize on mistakes.

"We are making history as we speak," Paraguay's Manchester City forward Rocque Santa Cruz said after reaching the second round. "We feel stronger than ever, and have the necessary quality to go through.

"We're nowhere near being satisfied. If we reach the quarterfinals, then we can begin talking about this being a good World Cup for us."

Added Martino: "Getting to the round of 16 makes this the best World Cup ever for Paraguay, but we want more from this tournament."

Martino said he preferred to meet Japan over Denmark in the second round because he knows its style as Martino's team faced Takesh Okada's side at the Kirin Cup in May 2008.

"We are focused on this match. We know Japan is a team that runs a lot, they pressure and they are good passing the ball. We should be able to adjust, but it would be better if we can get them to adjust to Paraguay's style," goalkeeper Justo Villar said after the scoreless draw with New Zealand at Polokwane on Thursday.

Paraguay had a solid first round, holding Italy to a 1-1 draw, beating Slovakia 2-0 and qualifying for the last 16 with the draw to New Zealand.

But with the best strikeforce the nation has ever had--Borussia Dortmund's Nelson Valdez, Oscar Cardozo of Benfica and Santa Cruz--Martino feels his team can go deeper into the knockout phase.

The manager can also rely on Argentina-born Lucas Barrios, who scored 19 goals in his maiden season at Dortmund and has softened the blow of missing Salvador Cabanas. Cabanas was forced to miss the World Cup after the America striker was shot in the head and nearly killed earlier this year.

"Paraguay has become tactically organized while seeing their players evolve on an indiviudal basis," Martino said. "This develoment was not expected of us by the other South American teams, and that is why we are here at this World Cup and some of them are not.

"We have high expectations for ourselves."