Paraguay at the Copa América

Paraguayan participation in the Copa Amèrica

Midfielder Manuel Fleitas Solich appeared in five South American Championships in the 1920s as a player and led Paraguay to their first title in 1953 as coach.

The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.[1]

Paraguay can historically be considered South America's 'Best of the Rest' as they are ranked fourth in the Copa Américas All-Time table behind CONMEBOL's big three: Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

However, Paraguay's most successful era continentally was in the late 1940s culminating in their first tournament victory in 1953 while in recent decades Paraguay produced mediocre results. Even the 'Golden Generation', which continually qualified and produced good results at the FIFA World Cups from 1998–2010, never advanced beyond the quarter-finals at a Copa América until reaching the final once in 2011.

## Overall record

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Defender Heriberto Herrera played an integral part of the 1953 tournament winning squad. He is the only Paraguayan to be honoured as player of the tournament. Players of Olimpia celebrating the victory of the 1979 Copa Libertadores. It was the first time the tournament was won by a Paraguayan club and a large block of players was part of the national squad that won the Copa América the same year. Integral players were Carlos Kiese, Flaminio Sosa and Roberto Paredes, among others. South American Championship / Copa América record

Year  | Round  | Position  | Pld | W | D*  | L | GF | GA | Squad
1916 | Not a CONMEBOL member
1917
1919
1920
1921 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7  | Squad
1922 | Runners-up | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | Squad
1923 | Third place | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6  | Squad
1924 | Third place | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4  | Squad
1925 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13  | Squad
1926 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 20  | Squad
1927 | Did not enter
1929 | Runners-up | 2nd | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | Squad
1935 | Did not enter
1937 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 16  | Squad
1939 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8  | Squad
1941 | Did not enter
1942 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 10  | Squad
1945 | Did not enter
1946 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8  | Squad
1947 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 11 | Squad
1949 | Runners-up | 2nd | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 13 | Squad
1953 | Champions | 1st | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | Squad
1955 | Fifth place | 5th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 14  | Squad
1956 | Fifth place | 5th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8  | Squad
1957 | Did not enter
1959 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 12  | Squad
1959 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11  | Squad
1963 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | Squad
1967 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 13  | Squad
1975 | Group stage | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5  | Squad
1979 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3 | Squad
1983 | Third place | 3rd | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1  | Squad
1987 | Group stage | 9th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3  | Squad
1989 | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10  | Squad
1991 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8  | Squad
1993 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7  | Squad
1995 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5  | Squad
1997 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5  | Squad
1999 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1  | Squad
2001 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6  | Squad
2004 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5  | Squad
2007 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8  | Squad
2011 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 8 | Squad
2015 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12  | Squad
2016 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3  | Squad
2019 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4  | Squad
2021 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6  | Squad
2024 | Group stage | 14th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8  | Squad
Total | 2 Titles | 39/48 | 180 | 64 | 43 | 73 | 267 | 311 | —

* Includes a 2–2 draw awarded to Peru.

## Winning tournaments

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### 1953 South American Championship

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Paraguay squad – 1953 South American Championship winners (1st title)

* GK Noceda
* GK Riquelme
* DF Cabrera
* DF Herrera
* DF Maciel
* DF Martínez
* DF Olmedo
* MF Gavilán
* MF Hermosilla
* MF Leguizamón
* MF Molinas
* FW Arce
* FW Ayala
* FW Berni
* FW Fernández
* FW Gómez
* FW González
* FW Lacasa
* FW León
* FW López
* FW Parodi
* FW Romero
* Coach: Fleitas Solich

After coach Manuel Fleitas Solich took charge of the Paraguay national team in 1947, he developed an already skillful team into title contestants. In 1947 and 1949, Los Guaraníes were consecutive vice-champions.

In 1949 and 1953 Paraguay was in the same situation before their last match of the group phase: Anything less than a win against Brazil would mean tournament victory for the opponent, while a win would force both teams into a play-off. Both times Paraguay won 2–1.

In the 1949 play-off, Brazil thrashed Paraguay 7–0 on home soil, taking revenge for the group match defeat along with tournament victory. In 1953 however, the Paraguayan's scored two early goals in the play-off, and led 3–0 by half-time, winning the match 3–2.

1 April 1953[2]

Paraguay | 3–2|  Brazil

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López 14'
Gavilán 17'
Fernández 41' |  | Baltazar 56', 65'

Estadio Nacional, Lima

Attendance: 35,000

Referee: Charles Dean

### 1979 Copa América

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Paraguay squad – 1979 Copa América winners (2nd title)

* GK Báez
* GK Fernández
* DF Arce
* DF Cibils
* DF Espínola
* DF Ovelar
* DF Paredes
* DF Sandoval
* DF Solalinde
* DF Sosa
* DF Torales
* DF J. Villalba
* MF Aquino
* MF Colmán
* MF Escobar
* MF Florentín
* MF Kiese
* MF Osorio
* MF Pesoa
* MF Romerito
* MF Talavera
* MF Torres
* MF Vera
* FW Acosta
* FW Cabañas
* FW Fleitas
* FW Isasi
* FW Meza
* FW E. Morel
* FW M. Morel
* FW Pérez
* FW E. Villalba
* Coach: Miranda

1979 was the second edition of a revised Copa América which was not held as a local tournament, but spread over several months in a number of home-and-away-matches. In the group phase, opponent Uruguay slipped up in their first match against Ecuador, losing 1–2, and were held at bay by Paraguay with two draws. A closely contested semi-final saw Paraguay win 4–3 on aggregate over Brazil.

The rules for the final against Chile were that a play-off on neutral ground was to be played if the teams were equal on points after two legs. Goal difference would only come into play if the play-off also ended in a draw. After a 3–0 home win, but a 1–0 away defeat, the play-off was scheduled in Buenos Aires six days later. Drawing 0–0, Paraguay won on aggregate goals after that play-off. In total, Paraguay had to play nine matches to be crowned champions, a tournament record tied with Peru, who went through a similar ordeal four years earlier.

11 December 1979 [3]

Paraguay | 0–0|  Chile

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José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

Attendance: 6,000

Referee: Arnaldo C. Coelho

## Record by opponent

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Paraguay's highest victory at a Copa América was a 7–0 win against Bolivia in 1949. Their highest defeat was a 0–8 loss against Argentina in 1926.

Copa América matches (by team)

Opponent  | W | D | L | Pld | GF | GA
Argentina | 0 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 23 | 78
Bolivia | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 31 | 8
Brazil | 7 | 11 | 14 | 32 | 31 | 65
Chile | 13 | 2 | 7 | 22 | 38 | 31
Colombia | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 17 | 13
Costa Rica | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2
Ecuador | 9 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 26 | 15
Jamaica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0
Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0
Mexico | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7
Peru | 7 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 35 | 25
Qatar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2
United States | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2
Uruguay | 6 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 33 | 55
Venezuela | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 8
Total | 64 | 43 | 73 | 180 | 267 | 311

## Record players

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Rank  | Player  | Matches  | Tournaments

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1 | Manuel Gavilán | 20 | 1947, 1949 and 1953
Salvador Villalba | 20 | 1955, 1956, 1959 (ARG) and 1959 (ECU)
3 | Sinforiano García | 19 | 1946, 1947 and 1949
Juan Torales | 19 | 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1989
Carlos Gamarra | 19 | 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2004
6  | Gerardo Rivas | 18 | 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 and 1925
Manuel Fleitas Solich | 18 | 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925 and 1926
Roberto Fernández | 18 | 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1989
Roque Santa Cruz | 18 | 1999, 2007, 2011 and 2015
Paulo da Silva | 18 | 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2016

## Top goalscorers

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Rank  | Player  | Goals  | Tournaments (goals)

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1  | Juan Bautista Villalba | 9 | 1946 (4) and 1947 (5)
2  | Marcial Barrios | 8 | 1939 (3), 1942 (3) and 1949 (2)
3  | Gerardo Rivas | 7 | 1921 (1), 1922 (2), 1923 (1), 1924 (1) and 1925 (2)
Aurelio González | 7 | 1929 (5) and 1937 (2)
Dionisio Arce | 7 | 1949
Jorge Duílio Benítez | 7 | 1949
Maximo Rolón | 7 | 1955 (5) and 1956 (2)
Roque Santa Cruz | 7 | 1999 (3), 2007 (3) and 2011 (1)
9  | Ildefonso López | 6 | 1921 (1), 1922 (1), 1923 (1), 1924 (2) and 1926 (1)
Leocadio Marín | 6 | 1947
José Aveiro | 6 | 1959 (ARG)

## Awards and records

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Team Awards

* Champions 2x (1953, 1979)
* Second Place 6x (1922, 1929, 1947, 1949, 1963, 2011)
* Third Place 7x (1923, 1924, 1925, 1939, 1959 (ARG), 1983)

Individual Awards[4]

* Most Valuable Player 1953: Heriberto Herrera
* Top Scorer 1929: Aurelio González (5 goals)
* Top Scorer 1979: Eugenio Morel (4 goals) (shared)
* Best Goalkeeper 2011: Justo Villar

## See also

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* Paraguay at the FIFA World Cup

## References

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1. ^ "Copa América". Encyclopædia Britannica. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
2. ^ Oliver, Guy (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness publishing. p. 561\. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
3. ^ Oliver, Guy (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness publishing. p. 567\. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
4. ^ "The Copa América Archive". 19 July 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

## External links

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* RSSSF archives and results
* Soccerway database

* v
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Paraguay national football team

General|

* Paraguayan Football Association
* History
* Managers

Venues|

* Estadio Defensores del Chaco

Statistics|

* Head to head
* Player records

Performances|

* FIFA World Cup
* Copa América

Women teams|

* Women
* Women U-20
* Women U-17
* Futsal)

Other national teams|

* U-23 (Olympic)
* U-20
* U-17
* U-15
* Beach
* Futsal

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Countries at the Copa América

CONMEBOL members|

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

Invitees nations|

* Canada
* Costa Rica
* Haiti
* Honduras
* Jamaica
* Japan
* Mexico
* Panama
* Qatar
* United States

*[Pld]: Matches played
*[W]: Matches won
*[D]: Matches drawn
*[L]: Matches lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template