Making a Mark in Paraguay Football History
By bharbs, 28th Jun 2010 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsSport
An overview of Paraguay Football history up to the present.
Making a Mark in Paraguay Football History
World Cup is a hot topic nowadays. Who would have not been eager to know whose team is leading? Isn’t it exciting to be part of this great event wherein different countries are competing against each other for their own pride? But eventually, at the end of the Cup there can only be one winner, which team would it probably be?
Paraguay is one of the countries who are participating in the World Cup and one of their popular players is Carlo Gamarra. But unfortunately, he is not a partaker of today’s World Cup because of his retirement in 2006.
Carlos Alberto Gamarra Pavon was born on February 17, 1971 in Ypacarai, Paraguay. He is the captain of Paraguay national team at International level, playing at centre half. He also made a record of 110 international appearances and scoring 12 goals, making him the most capped player in Paraguayan football history. Gamarra is a well known football player because of his dedication to the game and in his leadership to his team. He is considered as one of the most respected defenders in the world because of how he played for his team and for how he lead them. He played for Cerro Porteño in his home country in 1991, making it the beginning of his club career then he went on to win the Paraguayan national championship with Cerro in 1992. For a short period of time, he moved to Independiente for the1992- 1993 football season in Argentina then he moved back to Cerro Porteño. His first international cup was against Bolivia on March 27, 1993, where in Paraguay lost. Gamarra joined Internacional in Brazil where he became more popular and eventually, he was named as Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in 1997 by the Paraguayan newspaper Diario ABC Color. In 1997- 1998 Portugese season, he moved to SL Benfica before returning to Brazil. During the World Cup France 1998, Paraguay were knocked out by France, which became the winner of the season. Gamarra played in all Paraguay’s four games; showing off his great defensive skills which made him stood the most. He is also a smart player because he did not concede a single foul during his side matches. The FIFA also named him as part the All-Star team of the World Cup. Gamarra moved to Spanish league playing for Atlético Madrid after finishing the 1999 Brazilian football season. During the 2001-2002 seasons, he joined the AEK Athens, where he wins the Greek Cup. Unfortunately for Paraguay, during the 2002 World Cup, they have been knocked out in the second round. But again, Gamarra played smart enough for him not to concede any foul. Aside from his World Cup performances, he also participated for the 2002-2003 season and 2004- 2005 season. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, after the defeat of Paraguay against England, he announced his retirement from the Paraguay national team.
Currently, the Paraguay team is under the guidance of Coach Gerardo Martino. They have already played two games with one win and one draw. They are currently leading against the other teams in group F. It only proves that they are really a progressing and improving team.
Even though Gamarra wasn’t part of today’s World Cup they have made sure that they will strive harder and never make the same mistake they have committed from the previous World Cup. With the help of the team’s star players, like Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas I am definitely sure that they will be more united and they will play harder to win every game that they will have. Hopefully, this World Cup would be a successful one for Paraguay since they are really doing their best and giving their all in every game they have.
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