ASUNCION — Paraguay named a World Cup squad featuring Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez while his former club teammate Julio Enciso, now with Strasbourg, will lead the attack.
Argentinian coach Gustavo Alfaro called up 20-year-old left-back Alexandro Maidana, who only made his full international debut in March, to fill in for the injured Mathias Villasanti.
Paraguay faces joint hosts the United States in their opening Group D game on June 12 in Los Angeles before taking on Turkey on June 19 and Australia on June 25, with both matches in Santa Clara.
They are returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals in South Africa, AFP reported.
PARAGUAY SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Roberto Fernandez (Cerro Porteno), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo de Almagro/ARG), Gaston Olveira (Olimpia)
Defenders: Gustavo Velazquez (Cerro Porteno), Juan Jose Caceres (Dinamo Moscow/RUS), Gustavo Gomez (Palmeiras/BRA), Omar Alderete (Sunderland/ENG), Fabian Balbuena (Gremio/BRA), Jose Canale (Lanus/ARG), Junior Alonso (Atletico Mineiro/BRA), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres/ARG).
Midfielders: Diego Gomez (Brighton/ENG), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN), Damian Bobadilla (Sao Paulo/BRA), Matias Galarza (Atlanta United/USA), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City/USA), Mauricio Magalhaes (Palmeiras/BRA), Alejandro Romero Gamarra (Al-Ain/UAE).
Forwards: Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth/ENG), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United/USA), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg/FRA), Ramon Sosa (Palmeiras/BRA), Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese/ITA), Alex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia/ARG), Gabriel Avalos (Independiente/ARG), Isidro Pitta (Bragantino/BRA).
