Paraguay held to 2-2 draw by physical Norway
(Reuters)Wed May 24, 2006 8:56 PM BST
OSLO, May 24 (Reuters) - World Cup-bound Paraguay finally woke up in the second half of their friendly against Norway on Wednesday to leave Oslo with a 2-2 draw after showing some of the spirit that won them a place in Germany.
Norway were leading 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal by Frode Johnsen who headed home unopposed from a free kick after 21 minutes with four Paraguay defenders looking on.
The South Americans had been reduced to a handful of long balls during a tepid first half performance and apart from an effort disallowed for offside did not threaten to score.
However, Paraguay looked like a different side in the second period and within minutes captain Carlos Gamarra, in his 105th game for his country, headed the equaliser.
Nelson Heado Valdez put the visitors ahead moments later with his third international goal when he latched on to a looping through ball and unleashed a searing first-time strike.
Norway, who failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing a playoff with Czech Republic, were very competitive and Johnsen scored with another header on the hour to claim a deserved draw.
Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz was happy with the performance and said it was good test against north European opponents.
"In South America we are not used to this strong physical football, the type that Sweden and England will play," he said.
Paraguay have qualified for the past three World Cups and reached the last 16 in 1998 and 2002. They play Sweden, England and Trinidad & Tobago in their Group B matches next month.
Ruiz said first choice striker Roque Santa Cruz did not play because he is still recuperating after damaging his knee playing for Bayern Munich in October but he will be fit for Germany.
Paraguay taste the physical game
(CNN)Wednesday, May 24, 2006 Posted: 2020 GMT (0420 HKT)
Valdez, right, put Paraguay in front ealy in the second half in OsloOSLO, Norway -- Paraguay warmed up for next month's World Cup opener against England with a 2-2 draw against physical Norway in Oslo on Wednesday.
Frode Johnsen put the home side in front on 21 minutes but captain Carlos Gamarra, in his 105th game for his country, headed the equalizer for the South Americans three minutes into the second half.
Nelson Haedo Valdez put Paraguay in front six minutes later but Rosenborg Trondheim's Johnsen equalised after 59 minutes with another header.
Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz was happy with the performance and said it was good test against north European opponents.
"In South America we are not used to this strong physical football, the type that Sweden and England will play," he said.
Striker Roque Santa Cruz did not play because he is still recuperating after damaging his knee playing for Bayern Munich in October.
Earlier Ruiz said Santa Cruz would not play against England on June 10 in Frankfurt, but should be fit to play in the second match against Sweden.
"We have other options," Ruiz told Paraguay TV station Canal 13. "We want Roque to be 100 percent well."
Ruiz said Santa Cruz, who's had two operations on his right knee in the last 18 months, will be missed.
"The ideal thing is to have Roque on the team, because of his speed, his short-distance attacks and mid-range shots," Ruiz said.
Ruiz nominated Jose Cardozo, Salvador Cabanas and Nelson Cuevas as possible replacements.
Paraguay are competing in their third straight World Cup finals having been eliminated in 1998 by champions France and in 2002 by runners-up Germany.
Their final Group B game is against Trinidad and Tobago in Kaiserslautern on June 20.
