Football: World Cup - Paraguay to keep it tight

Tuesday 23 June 1998 23:02 BST
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CAUTION WILL once again be the by-word for Paraguay when they tackle the Group D winners Nigeria in Toulouse today. The South Americans have yet to score in the tournament but they have not conceded any goals either. Paulo Cesar Carpegiani's team go into the game knowing another shut-out will give them a chance of defying the odds and progressing to the second round as they did in 1986 in Mexico when they were beaten 3- 0 by England. After two goalless draws Paraguay are second in the group with two points, one more than Bulgaria and Spain, who meet in Lens.

A third 0-0 draw for the South Americans against already qualified Nigeria would be enough to see them into the last 16 - but only if Bulgaria and Spain cancel each other out in their match.

The goalkeeping captain and free-kick specialist Jose Luis Chilavert said the South Americans will not underestimate Nigeria. "We won't make the same mistake as Spain," he said. "After all we're playing the best team in the World Cup at the moment."

Johan Cruyff has slammed Spain's over-confidence as their France 98 future hangs by a thread. The Dutchman, who led Barcelona to the 1992 European Cup during a hugely-successful spell at the Catalan club, said: "The trouble with Spain is in their heads. They thought they had it pretty much won before they arrived.

He added: "They were over-confident. But they've not exactly disappointed me. After all, Spain has never done anything at a World Cup."

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