Football and emotions go hand in hand, but it's still rare that you see just how much the game means to players, especially up close. After witnessing Paraguay's pre-match press conference ahead of their first game at the against co-hosts USA, there’s no doubting the significance of the country's return to the world stage after a 16-year absence.
“It's a moment of great fulfilment, of great joy," Paraguay's Argentinian coach Gustavo Alfaro said. "We know how much the country needed this, the struggle the players have gone through all this time to try to achieve this. We know this isn’t just another game; we know it's a different game, with characteristics unlike any other we might ever play."
Alfaro is heading into his second World Cup, after leading Ecuador at Qatar 2022 – an experience he described to FIFA as "the most sublime experience I've ever had as a coach" – and therefore heads into the group opener with a measure of experience under his belt, while it’s all brand new for his players.
"It's a dream I've had since I was a kid: to represent your country at a World Cup," the versatile 23-year-old midfielder Diego Gomez told FIFA. "I'm really happy, really excited and I can't wait to play the match tomorrow."
Gomez then gave a glimpse of just how stirring it is to represent his nation on the global stage. "I'm a player who is always calm, but to be honest, I'm aware that the people of Paraguay are really excited about us," he said. "We know what it means to represent our country, especially having made it to the World Cup.
"We always give 100% to do our country proud. I'm very happy here, to be able to represent my country [at a World Cup], which we’ve achieved after a long time – it’s a correction and well, the truth is that..."
As the shy Gomez was speaking, he became overwhelmed with emotions, and eventually literally ran out of words as he was tearing up – a poignant moment, crowned by Alfaro hugging his player and adding the only explanation needed: "There are no words; that's how we feel. And that's how all of Paraguay feels."
Paraguay will be looking to channel those emotions into success against the co-hosts, who narrowly won the last encounter between the two teams in a friendly this past November. And while Gomez ran out of words, Alfaro had more than a few left: "We have confidence in our abilities, and in the history where Paraguay has always been a complex and difficult opponent at the World Cup."
"We come with enthusiasm; we come with that determination to try. Our intention is not to come and just participate in a World Cup, but to come and compete, and hopefully that will lead to the results that both we and the country hope to achieve."
Sources: FIFA Official
