SANTA CLARA, June 20 — Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro hailed the fighting spirit of his players after Friday’s 1-0 World Cup win over Turkey and said his team should never have to feel like underdogs.

Turkey were stunned when Matias Galarza put Paraguay ahead 64 seconds after kick-off with a superb long-range strike.

Paraguay then had to withstand waves of Turkish attacks, with Miguel Almirón’s dismissal in first-half stoppage time making the task even tougher for the South Americans.

“We can face better teams and more important or prestigious opponents, we respect this, but we are never going to feel underdogs or inferior to any other opponents,” Alfaro told a press conference.

“We will always give our best and represent our jersey in the best possible way.”

Paraguay, playing in their first World Cup since 2010, had come in for heavy criticism following the 4-1 hammering dished out by co-hosts the United States in their group opener.

Alfaro took aim at the media on the eve of Friday’s match, telling them to hold him accountable and leave his players alone.

Paraguay’s win eliminated Turkey and confirmed the US as group winners following their 2-0 victory over Australia earlier on Friday.

Paraguay return to the San Francisco Bay Area on June 25 to play their final group match against the Australians.

Alfaro said the win over Turkey was not about tactics or strategy, but the spirit of his players.

“When we won the game when the final whistle was blown, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“Anyway, I told my players, in line with what I said earlier, that I wanted to see that joy when they look each other in the eyes, and you don’t need any words.”

“Everything is boiling, your blood, your chests, everything. And I told them that’s what I wanted to see. I want that fighting spirit… and even if people think we’re dead, we’re not dead.” — Reuters

SANTA CLARA (‌California), June 19 — Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro yesterday vented his fury over criticism his players endured after their opening World Cup hammering by the United States, telling media to lay off his team and send all of ‌the punches his way.

Alfaro took full responsibility for Paraguay’s 4-1 defeat by co-hosts the United States last week and said his players must be left alone so they can get their Group D campaign back on track today against Turkiye.

“Criticise me. You can shoot at me but not at them. Protect them. You know why? Because when the World Cup is over, I will be gone, but they will stay. They will remain and they will keep on representing the country,” Alfaro said, waving his finger repeatedly during a packed press conference.

“Please hit me. Hit me. I’m going to chin up and take all of your punches. But I’m only asking you to defend the ‌players, they are the most valuable asset that the national team has.”

Paraguay, known as “La Albirroja”, last ⁠played in the World Cup in 2010, where they ⁠were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in a dramatic quarter-final that ⁠marked their best run in the ⁠tournament.

There will be little ⁠room for error for either Paraguay or Turkiye in the San Francisco Bay Area today after both sides suffered opening-game defeats, with Turkiye beaten 2-0 by Australia.

The two sides will have an idea ⁠mathematically of the task ahead, with the United States taking on Australia in Seattle earlier in the day.

‘You can destroy the coach, that’s fine’

Alfaro said Paraguay had been “overwhelmed and steamrolled on all fronts” against the United States but had since regrouped and would put up a good fight against Turkiye.

But as he tried to focus on the upcoming match, he became visibly vexed by questions about ⁠his opening game selection and went into another long tirade.

“I closed the US chapter on Saturday and you’re bringing me back to this US chapter. Tomorrow, we have a final ⁠against Turkiye,” he said.

“They are here, representing seven million people. So I would like to see you defending ⁠that jersey ... ⁠you can destroy the coach, that is fine.”

Midfielder Matias Galarza sat beside Alfaro, looking awkward at times during a heated press conference that ran well over the allotted time.

“Well, it’s difficult to speak now, isn’t it,” Galarza said, ‌drawing laughter from the media.

“Obviously that game was a shock to us... The US game chapter is closed and tomorrow we have a final, and that’s how we see it.” — Reuters