Paraguay Finalizes 2010 World Cup Squad

Gerardo Martino has finalized his squad for the World Cup, selecting the 23 players who will compete for Paraguay against Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand in South Africa's Group F.

Martino cut seven players today, with Monterrey's Osvaldo Martínez a slight surprise omission. Martínez had made 13 appearances for Paraguay since October 2008 but was excluded from a midfield that will include Cristian Riveros (Sunderland), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Enrique Vera (LDU Quito), Victor Cáceres (Libertad), Édgar Barreto (Atalanta), and Néstor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors).

The other players cut: Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus), Marcos Cáceres (Racing Club), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys), Jorge Achucarro (NOB), Sergio Aquino (Libertad) and Julio Manzur (Olimpia).

In goal for Paraguay, Martino selected Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteño) and Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellín) to back-up Justo Villar (Real Valladolid).

Captain Denis Caniza (León) is among the eight defenders selected, as are Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Julío César Cáceres (Atlético Miniero), Darío Verón (UNAM), Claudio Morel (Boca Junios), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo) and Antolín Alcaraz (Club Brugge).

Paraguay's depth at forward is reflected in their six strikers: Roque Santa Cruz of Manchester City; Oscar Cardozo of Benfica; Nelson Valdéz of Borussia Dortmund; Édgar Benítez of Pachuca; Rodolfo Gamarra of Libertad; and Lucios Barrios of Borussia Dortmund, a player naturalized from Argentine who gained his passport in March.