beIN SPORTS

By Nick Dorrington (@chewingthecoca)

Paraguay finished as runners up at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina but even their staunchest supporters would not have expected them to make significant progress into the 2015 edition. In the interim, they had failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in disastrous fashion, while they came into the tournament on the back of just two wins in their previous 10 matches.

Prior to their opening fixture, former national team goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert had even described new coach Ramón Díaz as a “layabout” who “only came for the money”.

But Díaz and his team have proved everyone wrong. They progressed undefeated in second place from Group B and then saw off Brazil in Saturday’s quarter-final in Concepción to make it through to the final four. They have shown excellent spirit to come back from behind to draw with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay and held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties on Saturday following an impressive second-half performance.

“The team deserves respect for what they have achieved,” Díaz said afterwards. “We have taken important steps forward and showed the people what we are capable of.”

The former River Plate coach took over last December in the wake of a World Cup qualification campaign in which Paraguay had got through three coaches and 52 players - the highest number of any of the South-American nations - in picking up just three wins and 12 points to finish bottom of the nine-team group. The successes of the Gerardo Martino era then seemed but a distant memory.

Diaz experimented with a back three in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Mexico in March but thereafter reverted to the Uruguayan-style 4-4-2 that is the Paraguayan staple. His side generally defend in a deep block, although they have also displayed the ability to push their press higher up the pitch in a compact and well-structured manner when necessary, while the majority of their attacks are constructed down the flanks. They also make good use of set-pieces.

It is not the most sophisticated approach but it has been a successful one during the Copa América.

Paulo Da Silva and Pablo Aguilar have established a solid partnership in the centre of defence, while the rapid wing-play of Derlis González - who scored twice from the penalty spot against Brazil, including the winning kick in the shootout - and Édgar Benítez has proved to be a potent attacking weapon. Roque Santa Cruz has offered a solid back-to-goal reference point up front, with Nelson Haedo Valdez or Lucas Barrios offering able support alongside him.

Perhaps just as importantly, Díaz has formed a harmonious and determined group in which experienced mainstays like Santa Cruz, Justo Villar and Paulo da Silva have played an important role in guiding some of the younger players through their first major international tournament.

Argentina, coached by Martino, now await. Paraguay came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the Albiceleste during the group stage but had lost 18 and won none of their 22 previous meetings in Copa América action.

Yet nothing will now seem impossible for a side who, as Díaz noted on Saturday, have come through matches against the three most successful teams in the history of the competition without suffering a single defeat.

“No-one believed in us and look what we’ve achieved,” González said in the wake of Saturday’s victory. “There is no limit to what this team can do.”