PASADENA, Calif. – Paraguay's aspirations of advancing to the knockout round in Copa America Centenario have gotten more complicated.
After losing 2-1 to Colombia on Tuesday, the Guaraníes must enter their final group-stage match against the United States with the urgency of getting three points in order to reach the tournament's quarterfinals.
"We struggled in the first half. Colombia had a great first half with their speed and pressuring up front. In the second half, with the disadvantage we had, we had to re-accommodate our game and we looked better," said Paraguay head coach Ramon Diaz at the post-game press conference at the Rose Bowl.
The Argentinean manager believes that Paraguay’s performance in the second half, where they conjured up Victor Ayala’s goal, then battled gamely with 10 men after Oscar Romero’s ejection and applied late pressure in Colombia’s penalty box, gives them good hopes that the team can get the result they need.
"The second half gives us hope," said Diaz. "I liked how the team played, I liked the intensity, being one man down and complicating Colombia put us in a very good position and gives us so much hope for the next game.”
After obtaining one point in the scoreless draw against Costa Rica in their debut game, Paraguay still depend on themselves in their aspirations to make it to the next round. However, Díaz said that they expect a tough game against the US.
"The United States is a very disciplined and organized team,” he said. “We know they have good rhythm, they are very good with headers, and it is a team with a lot of intensity. There will be a lot of pressure in that match and we will pressure them because we need to win to get through.”
