Uruguay vs Paraguay prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-09-06 23:30.
[p]An emotional Luis Suárez confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that this FIFA World Cup qualifier between Uruguay and Paraguay would be his 143rd and final international appearance. The 37-year-old, who is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer and second only to Diego GodĂn in caps, was sent off  on his debut against Colombia in 2007 but more recently came off the bench in July’s Copa AmĂ©rica third place playoff to score a 92nd minute equaliser and secure a subsequent victory on penalties against Canada.[/p]
[p]With Uruguay behind only Argentina in the CONMEBOL qualifiers after six matchdays, and already with a six-point cushion above the final guaranteed qualifying place, El Pistolero is leaving his country in a very strong position as they target a fifth successive World Cup appearance. It’s just as well then, because coach Marcelo Bielsa is without at least ten key players for this game including Darwin Núñez, the leading goalscorer in the qualifiers, who has been suspended for five matches after a brawl in the Copa América semi-finals.[/p]
[p]Paraguay have not featured at a World Cup finals since 2010 and, ahead of this matchday, occupied seventh place which would see them go into an inter-confederation play-off tournament. Some drab form explains why they find themselves in such a position, scoring just once and recording only one win so far in the qualifiers, whilst they were also eliminated from the Copa América without a point for the first time since 1925![/p]
[p]Daniel Garnero was dismissed as manager shortly after that exit and replaced by Gustavo Alfaro, who ironically ended his tenure in charge of Costa Rica with a 2-1 win over Paraguay in July. The Argentine has a tough job on his hands, and with no win for his adopted country against Uruguay since 2007, this promises to be a tough opener.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: All eyes will be on Suárez who will be looking to sign off in style by continuing a brilliant H2H record of four goals and seven assists from ten matches (W6, D3, L1). Paraguayan winger Ramón Sosa was one of Paraguay’s only positives from their disastrous Copa América as he was involved in two of their three goals (G1, A1) after not contributing to any across his prior 11 appearances.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Paraguay have not opened the scoring in any of the last ten H2Hs.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]