June 24, 2026 at – 18:16
The coach of the Paraguayan team, Gustavo Julio Alfaro (63 years old), spoke at a press conference prior to the duel against Australia and commented that they will play another final this Thursday.
The Paraguayan team plays this Thursday 11:00 p.m. a real final against Australia for the last date of Group D of the 2026 World Cup, and Gustavo Alfaro made it clear that the team faces the commitment with maximum intensity and convinced that he is facing a historic opportunity.
The red-haired coach highlighted the characteristics that Mauricio can provide as a replacement for the suspended Miguel Almirón. “Mauricio can give us the ability to pause, organize and partner with Julio Enciso. Miguel is more vertical and works more lying down on the wings. They are high-ranking footballers, different from each other, but both adapt to the scheme”he explained.
When analyzing the group, Alfaro recalled that since the draw he considered that it would be one of the most balanced areas of the championship.
“I said it was the most even group of all. The four teams had a chance of qualifying or being eliminated. We were the most vulnerable according to statistics and the ranking, because all the rivals were above us”he stated.
The coach also highlighted the historical difficulty that Paraguay has in achieving victories in a World Cup and the importance of the challenge ahead.
“If we beat Australia it will be the first time that Paraguay wins two games in a World Cup. Our objective was to reach the last date with a chance and we have achieved it. The World Cup is very complex. Look at the case of Turkey, which seemed to be better positioned and in one week was left without a margin”he pointed out.
Alfaro insisted that Albirroja must approach the match as a final.
“We have to live tomorrow as if it were the last game of the World Cup. There is no tomorrow. The game is today and we have to give everything. We are going to face a strong opponent, with players who are among the fastest in the tournament and with an enormous capacity for forcefulness”he expressed.
Regarding the growth of Australian football, the Argentine coach highlighted the evolution that the Oceanic team has had in recent years.
“Australia has evolved a lot. Since competing in Asia it has improved in all aspects. We also see the growth of Concacaf and Africa. We in South America have to earn the right to play one more game”he stated.
The coach also left a phrase that summarizes the mentality he seeks to transmit to his team.
“The hierarchy is respected, but not feared. That’s the first thing I tell the players. We must find our place and compete against anyone”held.
Finally, he avoided delving into the comparison between the expulsion of Miguel Almirón against Türkiye and a similar action carried out by Jude Bellingham in the match between England and Ghana.
“From the moment Miguel’s incident happened we decided not to enter into that debate. We accepted it, luckily they gave him only one suspension date and that’s where our thing ends. The only thing I want is equal conditions”he concluded.
In addition, Alfaro once again expressed his position on the hydration breaks implemented by FIFA, considering that they alter the natural development of the matches.
“Before, they were optional and lasted one minute. Today they are institutionalized and last three minutes. It seems too much to me because it modifies the rhythm of the game. You have to adapt, but they are issues that change the dynamics of the games a lot”he finished.
