Copa America 2011- Paraguay vs Venezuela Preview
Copa America 2011 Group B
Paraguay vs Venezuela
Venue: Salta
Date: July 14 Time: 03:45 AM (IST)
Paraguay takes on Venezuela in their last group game of the Copa America 2011 in Salta later tonight. With Venezuela already through to the quarter finals, it’s a ‘do or die’ situation for Paraguay as nothing but a win can guarantee them their further progress though a draw could also take them through.
With four points from two games, this is enough to take them through to the Quarters, regardless of the result of their match against Paraguay. A win will ensure that they finish top of the group while a draw will earn them at the least the second spot, again depending on the Brazil versus Ecuador match.
However for Paraguay, they come into the match facing elimination from the group stages of the coveted continental championship, after failing to register a win against Ecuador in their opening game and squandering their lead against Brazil in the dying minutes of the game. With two draws they now have two points from two games.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino is like to field the same squad that secured a 2-2 draw against Brazil last weekend. The coach however has to watch his team play from the stand after being handed a touchline ban for his arguments with officials following the equalizer Brazil scored in their last game.
La Vinotinto are the surprise leaders of Group B. Oswaldo Vizcarrondo has previously stated that his side aren’t feeling the pressure as they have already secure their place in the quarter-finals. Cesar Farias looks set to call upon largely the same side that has performed impressively over the first two games.
In their last three encounters since 2007, Paraguay won twice while Venezuela won in 2007.
Probable Line-Ups
Paraguay: Villar; Piris, Da Silva,Veron, Torres; Barreto, Ortigoza, Riveros, Estigarribia; Santa Cruz, Barrios
Venezuela: Vega; Rosales, Vizcarrondo, Perozo, Cichero; Lucena, Gonzalez, Rincon; Arango, Miku, Rondon
Last Three Matches
Paraguay Venezuela
10-Jul-2011 Brazil 2 – 2 Paraguay 10-Jul-2011 Venezuela 1 – 0 Ecuador
04-Jul-2011 Paraguay 0 – 0 Ecuador 04-Jul-2011 Brazil 0 – 0 Venezuela
24-Jun-2011 Paraguay 0 – 0 Chile 2-Jun-2011 Venezuela 3 – 0 Mexico
