Cerro Porteno Football Club

09 October 2007

Paraguay forward Roque Santa Cruz has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay because of tendinitis in his knee.

A spokesman for the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) said the Blackburn Rovers forward would not travel to South America and that his place in the squad would be taken by Jorge Achucarro of Cerro Porteno.

Team doctor Manuel Aguilar told the ABC newspaper that Santa Cruz would need around two weeks to recover.

Santa Cruz's striking partner Nelson Haedo Valdez is also doubtful because of a shoulder injury and will undergo a fitness test this week.

Paraguay, who have qualified for the last three World Cups, visit Peru on Saturday in their opening game of the qualifying competition for 2010 and host Uruguay in Asuncion four days later.

06 October 2007

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino has named the following 24-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers away to Peru on Oct. 13 and at home to Uruguay on Oct. 17:

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Henry Lapczyk (Olimpia)

Defenders: Carlos Bonet (Cruz Azul), Denis Caniza (Cruz Azul), Julio Cesar Caceres (Tigres UANL), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Julio Manzur (Pachuca), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca), Jorge Nunez (Cerro Porteno), Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Enrique Vera (LDU)

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Reggina), Diego Gavilan (Gremio), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Jonathan Santana (VfL Wolfsburg), Jorge Britez (Cerro Porteno), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Domingo Salcedo (Racing Club)

Forwards: Nelson Haedo (Borussia Dortmund), Nestor Ayala (Tigre), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Salvador Cabanas (America-Mexico), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica)