Paraguay no underdogs after World Cup turnaround, says coach

Paraguayan coach Gustavo Alfaro praised his players’ fighting spirit after Friday’s 1-0 World Cup win over Turkey and said his team should never have to feel like underdogs.

Turkey were stunned when Matias Galarza put Paraguay ahead 64 seconds after kick-off with an excellent long-range strike.

Paraguay then faced waves of Turkish attacks, with Miguel Almiron’s dismissal in first-half stoppage time making the task even more difficult for the South Americans.

«We can compete against better teams and more important or prestigious opponents; we respect this, but we will never feel underdogs or inferior to other opponents,» Alfaro told a news conference.

“We will always do our best and represent our jersey in the best way possible.”

Paraguay, playing at the World Cup for the first time since 2010, came under heavy criticism after beating co-hosts the United States 4-1 in the group opener.

Alfaro addressed the media on the eve of Friday’s match, telling them to hold him accountable and leave his players alone.

READ: ‘We are ashamed’ says Turkiye’s Arda Guler after elimination from 2026 FIFA World Cup

Paraguay’s victory eliminated Turkey and confirmed the US as group winners after their 2-0 win over Australia earlier on Friday.

Paraguay returns to the San Francisco Bay Area on June 25 to play its final group match against the Australians.

Alfaro said the victory over Turkey was not about tactics or strategy, but about the spirit of his players.

“When we won the game, when the final whistle blew, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“Anyway, I told my players, in line with what I said before, that I wanted to see that joy when they look into each other’s eyes, and you don’t need words for that.

«Everything is boiling, your blood, your chest, everything. And I told them I wanted to see that. I want that fighting spirit… and even if people think we’re dead, we’re not dead.»

Published on June 20, 2026