Asunción, March 22 (EFE) - The local club-selected players of Paraguay, including Gastón Olveira, Alan Benítez, Gustavo Velázquez, and Roberto Fernández, embarked on their journey this Sunday to Greece, followed by a trip to France where they are set to face Morocco. These matches serve as crucial preparatory friendlies ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where the team aims to secure victories.
The players departed from Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asunción, heading to Athens, where they will challenge the Greek national team on March 27, as reported by the Paraguayan Football Association (APF). Following this match, the coaching staff led by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro will take the team to Lens, France, for a showdown against Morocco on March 31.
Despite the friendly nature of these upcoming games, goalkeeper Gastón Olveira, who is a Uruguayan national now representing Paraguay and plays for Club Olimpia, emphasized that the primary goal remains winning. This marks Olveira's first call-up to the national team, and he sees these matches as an opportunity to demonstrate his readiness for a spot on the roster for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
"The dream of participating in a World Cup is always alive; I am happy to be where I am, which is exactly where I want to be. I intend to enjoy this experience and fight for the spot that we all dream of," Olveira expressed, noting that he will be traveling alongside fellow goalkeeper Roberto 'Gatito' Fernández from Cerro Porteño.
Defender Alan Benítez from Libertad also shared his commitment, stating, "We will strive to represent our country well and aim to win these two final matches." Meanwhile, Gustavo Velázquez, another defender from Cerro Porteño, highlighted the significance of the upcoming games against Greece and Morocco as vital for assessing the team's conditions.
The last encounter between Paraguay and Greece dates back to June 2010, where the Albirroja secured a 2-0 victory in a friendly held in preparation for the World Cup in South Africa, which was the last tournament the South American team participated in. Their most recent match against Morocco was a friendly in September 2022 that ended in a 0-0 draw.
After a 16-year absence, Paraguay is set to make its World Cup debut on June 12 against the United States. As reported by infobae.com.
