- Title: SOUTH KOREA: GERMAN AND PARAGUAY TEAM TRAIN FOR WORLD CUP SOCCER MATCH
- Date: 14th June 2002
- Summary: SEOGWIPO, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 14, 2002) (REUTERS) GERMAN TEAM TRAINING PARAGUAY TEAM TRAINING SOUNDBITE (English) PARAGUAY STRIKER ROQUE SANTA CRUZ SAYS: "No, I feel very excited about the game. I think in this game, Germany is going to have the pressure to look for the goals. Also I think we are very exciting and we expect that the confidence we have from the last game, we can play again and do our best." SOUNDBITE (Spanish) PARAGUAY COACH CESARE MALDINI SAYS: "The German team consists of international players who have won cups and everything. It is clear that they will do everything to win the match." WIDE SHOT Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 29th June 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SEOGWIPO, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAQTKKB12T6X3TNCNQF095PABE
- Story Text: Nelson Cuevas' match-winning performance for Paraguay that sealed a place in the last 16 of the World Cup has not won him a starting place against injury-troubled Germany on Saturday (June 15).
Coach Cesare Maldini said Cuevas, who came on as a second half substitute against Slovenia on Wednesday (June 12) and scored twice to inspire a 3-1 win, would start on the bench for the second round clash on the island of Cheju, South Korea.
Cuevas, brought on in the 61st minute with his side trailing 1-0 and down to 10 men, ran Slovenia ragged with a scintillating display that turned the match.
The 22-year-old River Plate winger scored the first and third goals and was then taken off on a stretcher in injury time - but by then he had done enough to put Paraguay through and send South Africa home.
Maldini said Cuevas, who trained with the rest of the squad on Friday (June 14), was not seriously hurt but had been winded in a strong challenge.
Paraguay, who have progressed to the second round of the finals for the second World Cup in succession, are waiting on the fitness of experienced midfielder Roberto Acuna, who Maldini said had an abductor muscle injury.
Fellow midfielder Carlos Paredes, who is suspended after his sending-off against Slovenia, is set to be replaced by either Estanislao Struway or Juan Carlos Franco.
Germany suffered a big blow in their preparations for the match when inspirational playmaker Michael Ballack suffered a calf injury that makes him a doubtful starter.
Coach Rudi Voeller said on Friday that Ballack was not able to train on Thursday (June 13) because of a stiff left calf muscle.
The bad news was a surprise since shortly before Thursday's training Ballack had told a news conference he was fully fit.
The 25-year-old, who is vital to Germany, has been hampered by a bruised right foot but still played in the first three group games, looking better with every match.
Ballack's injury was the last thing Voeller wanted after key defender Carsten Ramelow and midfielders Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege were all ruled out of Saturday's game in Sogwipo through suspension.
Midfielder Joerg Boehme, who would have been a logical replacement, flew home on Wednesday after tearing a thigh muscle warming up for Tuesday's 2-0 win over Cameroon that sent the triple world champions through to the knockout stage. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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