PARAGUAY PROFILE: A volatile squad with a strongly defensive system which will back up a potentially dangerous strikeforce writes Paul Doyle

The league table says the men from Asuncion are the second best team in South America, but Paraguay will start the World Cup without their captain, their second-highest goalscorer, and their goalkeeper ... all of whom happen to be the same person: the wild and wonderful Jose Luis Chilavert.

Chilavert (right) was suspended for four games for spitting at Roberto Carlos after Paraguay's tempestuous encounter with Brazil - he missed their last two qualifiers and will also be absent from the first two matches in Korea/Japan. His place in goal will be taken by Ricardo Tavarelli or possibly Aldo Bobadilla, both competent custodians but neither of whom convey the charisma and influence of Chilavert.

Chilavert's suspension, though, will not be as damaging this time round as it would have been at France '98, where Paraguay deployed a fiercely defensive formation which yielded them three 0-0 draws.

Instead of a five man rearguard, they now operate a slightly more ambitious 4-4-2 system with a strong aerial dimension, principally for the benefit of lofty and lethal strikers Roque Santa Cruz of Bayern Munich and Jose Cardoso of Mexican outfit Cruz Azul.

With a population of only five million, it's hardly shocking that Paraguay aren't endowed with huge strength in depth. Nevertheless, coach Sergio Markarian (who was sacked at the end of the qualifiers) used last summer's Copa America to test new talent, and despite the fact they finished bottom of their group, some promising youngsters - such as River Plate striker Nelson Cuevas, or Newcastle's exciting midfielder Diego Gavilan - can expect to travel to the Orient with about 13 of the heroes from '98.

The defence was so redoubtable back then, it's little wonder stalwart Carlos Gammara survives, though young Victor Quintana has come in to bolster it further.

If the Copa America was a laboratory, the World Cup is the arena where results must be produced. Quarter-finalists last time, second in the South American qualifying league - their footballers have given the Paraguayan people high expectations for next summer.

Squad:

Goalkeepers
1-Jose Luis Chilavert (Strasbourg/Fra), 22-Ricardo Tavarelli (Olimpia), 12-Justo Wilmar Villar (Libertad)

Defenders
2-Francisco Arce (Palmeiras/Bra), 3-Pedro Sarabia (River Plate/Arg), 5-Celso Ayala (River Plate/Arg), 4-Carlos Gamarra (AEK Athens/Gre), 19-Daniel Sanabria (Libertad), 21-Denis Caniza (Santos Laguna/Mex), 18-Julio Cesar Caceres (Olimpia), 17-Juan Carlos Franco (Olimpia)

Midfielders
6-Estanislao Struway (Libertad), 16-Gustavo Morinigo (Libertad), 13-Carlos Paredes (FC Porto/Por), 15-Carlos Bonet (Libertad), 14-Diego Gavilan (Los Tecos/Mex), 8-Guido Alvarenga (Leon/Mex), 10-Roberto Acuna (Real Zaragoza/Spa)

Forwards
11-Jorge Campos (U. Catolica/Chi), 20-Jose Cardozo (Toluca/Mex), 9-Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich/Ger), 7-Richart Baez (Olimpia), 23-Nelson Cuevas (River Plate/Arg)