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Paraguay chooses World Cup team

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-16 08:24

BUENOS AIRES -- Paraguay's national soccer team manager, Anibal Ruiz, published on Monday a list of 23 players for the World Cup squad that favored young players, who might have a chance to play several World Cups, according to reports.

Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz attends a news conference to announce the team for the soccer World Cup in Germany, in Asuncion May 15, 2006.[Reuters]

Uruguay-born Ruiz chose teenage mid-fielder Jose Montiel, 18, from local team Olympia instead of Walter Fretes from Cerro Porteno, and told reporters in Asuncion that Montiel, "is part of a new group of footballers that gives us a great deal of optimism (and the idea that) looking forward the future could be great."

Most of the team-members are newcomers and "more than 50 percent are of an age to play in two or three more World Cups," Ruiz said.

Forward Nelson Cuevas, who plays for Mexican league team Pachuca, beat out Cesar Ramirez, of Brazilian team Flamengo.

The team's defenders will be Roberto Acuna, from Spain's Deportivo la Coruna, and Santurnino Cardozo, who is without a club after having negotiated to leave Argentine club San Lorenzo. Only five of the 23 chosen play in the local Paraguayan league.

Paraguay is in Group B of the World Cup, and will play England, Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago in the first phase.