Paraguay name strong side for Australia clash

Paraguay have named a near full strength squad for the upcoming Powerade Cup match against the Socceroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane early next month. 16 of the 19-man squad were present at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, where they bowed out after the first round.

Paraguay have named a near full strength squad for the upcoming Powerade Cup match against the Socceroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane early next month.

16 of the 19-man squad were present at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, where they bowed out after the first round.

Only Pedro Sarabia, Jose Domingo Salcedo and in-form striker Oscar Cardozo of Newell's Old Boys in Argentina have been added into the mix with their World Cup stars, who include Bayern Munich pair Julio Dos Santos and Roque Santa Cruz plus Deportivo La Coruna midfielder Roberto Acuna.

Cardozo-s inclusion is the most interesting, with the uncapped 23-year-old scoring seven goals in eight matches for Newell's in the Argentinean championship, which forced the hand of Paraguay coach Raul Amarilla.

The October 7 match in Brisbane will be the last for Paraguay's World Cup captain Carlos Gamarra.

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Derlis Gomez (Quilmes)

Defenders: Delio Toledo (Kayserispor), Carlos Gamarra (no club), Pedro Sarabia (Libertad), Paulo da Silva (Toluca), Julio Manzur (Santos)

Midfielders: Carlos Bonet (Libertad), Edgar Barreto (NEC Nijmegen), Roberto Acuna (Deportivo Coruna), Diego Gavilan (Newell's Old Boys), Cristian Riveros (Libertad), Jose Montiel (Udinese), Julio Dos Santos (Bayern Munich), Jose Domingo Salcedo (Cerro Porteno)

Forwards: Salvador Cabanas (America, Mex), Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Oscar Cardozo (Newell's Old Boys), Nelson Cuevas (America, Mex)

Paraguay is ranked 67 in the current FIFA World Rankings.