Boss Ramon Diaz claims Paraguay face a tougher challenge than beating Brazil when they play Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals.
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Brazil coach Dunga blamed a virus that hit several players for his team’s quarter-final elimination from the Copa America at the hands of Paraguay on Saturday.
But Derlis Gonzalez leveled from the penalty spot for Paraguay in the second half, and then struck the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out to clinch a famous win and set up a semi-final with Argentina.
Host Chile meets Peru in Monday’s other semifinal.
Paraguay has grown in confidence since the draw against Argentina and played an attacking game in its quarter-final against Brazil, which it won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Concepcion. “But we’re a very united team and we have more to give in this tournament… now we’re thinking about Argentina”, he told Chilean television.
It marked another bitter defeat for Brazil, who went out to Paraguay at the same stage of the competition four years ago, when they also lost on penalties.
Dunga lost a number of players to injury before the start of the tournament in Chile and then had captain and talisman Neymar ruled out through suspension after he was shown a red card in their second group-stage meeting against Colombia. Brazil did beat Venezuela 2-0 in their last group match, but without playing well. The team that finished at the bottom of South American qualifying for the 2014 World Cup is now just a win away from reaching a second successive Copa America final. “There’s a lot to learn from what happened here”.
Brazil had looked on course for a place in the last four after dominating the first half, and took the lead on 15 minutes through Robinho.
In the shoot-out, Ribeiro missed his penalty wide right, and Costa sent his shot over the crossbar.
However, euphoria quickly turned to tragedy when the 21-year-old learned his uncle Irrazabal Manuel suffered a heart attack after watching the game, and died.
We were eliminated because of a player’s mistake.
Without the suspended Neymar, Brazil again struggled to create scoring opportunities. The departure is all the more galling as the side had appeared to be in control.
The second half was a different story, however, as the Paraguayans climbed off the canvas in La Serena to earn a 2-2 draw, with Lucas Barrios struck a 90th-minute equaliser.
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Dunga is not offering this explanation as an excuse, at least that’s what he says. In a statement on the Brazil Football Confederation website Dunga added: “The way I expressed myself does not reflect my feelings or opinions”.
