Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro on what could earn Mauricio a World Cup place | OneFootball

According to Globo.com, Mauricio has received his first Paraguay call-up in this FIFA window, and coach Gustavo Alfaro says the Palmeiras midfielder could provide the game management the team lack.

Alfaro, who has led Paraguay back to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, believes Mauricio could organise play in a way the side do not currently have. He added that they have good players but no natural organiser to control the team’s tempo.

Mauricio has a Brazilian mother and a Paraguayan father. He obtained Paraguayan nationality with a World Cup call-up in mind, and his selection for these friendlies before the tournament has raised expectations.

Alfaro also called Palmeiras duo Gustavo Gómez and Ramón Sosa. In total, the club have eight players on international duty in this window, the highest tally of this World Cup cycle.

Paraguay will play two friendlies in this period, Greece in Athens on Friday, then Morocco on Tuesday.

Source: Globo.com