Paraguay uniforme World Cup 1998

Above kits: The Paraguay national football team had a new kit supplier, British sportswear manufacturer Reebok. Their kit with just a tiny amount of red, blue and white on the collar and cuffs. The away blue and white strip 1998 shirt, however made no appearance at the tournament. Home and away shirt featured an interesting Paraguay badge shadow pattern. The Paraguay kits has the no.18 on the front and rear indicating it was the shirt of forward player Cesar Ramirez, who at the time played for Portuguese club, Sporting Lisbon.

The Paraguay national football team with the red and white strip has reached the second round of the World Cup on three occasions (in 1986, 1998 and 2002) but has never advanced beyond that stage. Paraguay team was the emergence of new young players like Carlos Gamarra, Celso Ayala, Jose Luis Chilavert, Francisco Arce and Jose Cardozo, which became part of the "golden generation" that led Paraguay to three straight World Cups and good performances in continental competitions, establishing Paraguay as one of the top teams in South America along Brazil and Argentina.
This new generation of players helped end the World Cup drought in grand fashion, as the Albirroja reached the France 1998 World Cup by qualifying in second place in South America behind Argentina. The first round matches were against Bulgaria (0-0), Spain (0-0), and Nigeria (3-1; goals Celso Ayala, Miguel Angel Benitez and Jose Cardozo). Paraguay qualified to the second round (Round of 16) to be defeated in a thrilling match against would-be World Champions France. France only scored through Laurent Blanc in the 114th minute, during the second half of overtime (making it the first golden goal scored in a World Cup). Paraguay's central defending duo (Carlos Gamarra and Celso Ayala) and goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert were selected for the all-star World Cup team.

Match Featuring:

GROUP D

P W D L Gls Pts

NIGERIA 3 2 0 1 5-5 6

PARAGUAY 3 1 2 0 3-1 5

Spain 3 1 1 1 8-4 4

Bulgaria 3 0 1 2 1-7 1

Jun 12 Montpellier

Paraguay v Bulgaria 0-0 (Paraguay played with third kits and blue shorts)

Jun 19 St Etienne

Spain v Paraguay 0-0 (Paraguay played with all white strip)

Jun 24 Toulouse

Nigeria v Paraguay 1-3 (Paraguay played with home kits)

SECOND ROUND

Jun 28 Lens

France v Paraguay gg 1-0 (Paraguay played with home kits and white socks)

Paraguay squads:
1 GK Jose Luis Chilavert 2 DF Francisco Arce 3 DF Catalino Rivarola 4 DF Carlos Gamarra 5 DF Celso Ayala 6 MD Edgar Aguilera 7 FW Juan Yegros 8 FW Aristides Rojas 9 FW Jose Cardozo 10 MD Roberto Acuna 11 DF Pedro Sarabia 12 GK Danilo Aceval 13 MD Carlos Paredes 14 DF Ricardo Rojas 15 FW Miguel Benitez 16 MD Julio Enciso 17 FW Hugo Brizuela 18 FW Cesar Ramirez 19 MD Carlos Morales 20 DF Denis Caniza 21 FW Jorge Campos 22 GK Ruben Ruiz Diaz

Coach: Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani (BRA)