World Cup Record: Last 16 1986, 1998, 2002
Manager: Gerardo Martino
Key Player: Roque Santa Cruz
Qualified: 3rd CONMEBOL
Odds: 50/1

An impressive qualifying campaign saw Paraguay record ten wins from their 18 games as they finished third in the CONMEBOL behind Chile and Brazil. Much of their success can be attributed to their brilliant home form – seven of their victories were recorded at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Ascunsion – the highlight of these the 1-0 victory over Argentina with which they clinched qualification for South Africa. Paraguay have twice got out of the group stages of the World Cup, most notably in France 1998 when their star goalkeeper, Jose Chilavert – known for taking free kicks and penalties and boasting eight goals in his international career – was one of the stars of the tournament.

Roque Santa Cruz

Age: 28
Position: Centre Forward
Club: Manchester City (England – Premier League)
Caps: 64 (20 goals)

Santa Cruz scored 23 goals in 57 appearances for Blackburn Rovers, persuading Manchester City boss Mark Hughes to part with £18million for the hitman in June 2009. However, an injury-hit first season with City has halted the momentum of his flourishing career in the Premier League. The Paraguayan’s scoring record during his eight-year Bayern Munich career was less impressive as he struggled to nail down a first team place amongst competition from Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro, although he had notched up 31 goals by the time he left Germany for North-West England in 2007. He made his senior Paraguay debut as a seventeen-year-old in 1999 and has been a consistent scorer ever since with a ratio of a goal every 3 games.