PARAGUAY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Paraguay coach Anibal Maño' Ruiz looks ahead to the World Cup.

Record ID: 450830

  • Title: PARAGUAY: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Paraguay coach Anibal Maño' Ruiz looks ahead to the World Cup.
  • Date: 12th May 2006
  • Summary: VARIOUS: OF PARAGUAY JERSEYS BEING SOLD IN ASUNCION (4 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Paraguay
  • Country: Paraguay
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACN3O7EGX8Q6FYNKXQTADLFBC6
  • Story Text: Just one month before the start of the FIFA World Cup, Paraguay coach Anibal 'Maño' Ruiz is serene and philosophical about his team's chances.
    "Paraguay is a team that is characterized by being organized, by applying itself, by developing a certain tactical job," Ruiz said. "Paraguay cannot play like Brazil, nor can Brazil play like Paraguay. To play like Paraguay means to maintain a style that has sent it to previous classifications and which brought it here too."
    Although he was born in Salto, Uruguay (500 km northeast of the capital city of Montevideo), the 63-year-old has devoted much of his career to neighboring Paraguay. An experienced coach, he has also trained teams in Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Ecuador.
    Known for his charm and soft-spoken manner, Ruiz has yet to name the final squad, but is secure in his coaching style and team.
    "We can't change. If we're going to change the system to which we're accustomed, the system, let's say the zone that we use, we could have difficulties. It's not easy to incorporate a new system. We will do what's ours, being sure to neutralize the important parts-- they're all very good: they have top-level soccer players attacking, in the middle-- but first we neutralize them, then we'll do our own thing in the attack. We're worried but also, what should worry us is ourselves, not just England," he said of the team Paraguay will face on June 10 in Frankfurt.
    Ruiz is expected to name the final squad on Monday (May 15). So far, veteran striker Jose Cardozo and Dutch-based midfielder Edgar Barreto have started training. They are expected to be joined by defender Denis Caniza, veteran midfielder Roberto Acuna and Mexican-based forward Salvador Cabanas -- all considered certainties for the squad.
    Despite his soft-spoken style, Ruiz's leadership has proven to be solid on the field. He led the team to a fourth-place finish in the South American qualifying section, thereby securing the team's third consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals.
    He says that on and off the field, the push to triumph must be uncompromising.
    "No one can say 'play to draw.' He who, because of necessity, plays to draw, inevitably loses.
    Paraguay face England, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago in Group B, and leave for Austria on May 18, where it will be based in the run-up to the tournament.
    The World Cup final is due to be played on July 9.
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