Paraguay coach Alfaro has 'open wounds' after World Cup exit, unsure of future

Following Paraguay's 1-0 World Cup exit to France, decided by a penalty awarded after a VAR review, coach Gustavo Alfaro stated he could not fault the Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev's decision. The penalty was given after a challenge by Diego Gomez on Desire Doue.

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The referee has a first impression. He says that the player had thrown (himself) trying to generate contact. Then VAR ratifies that it is a penalty, according to them.

Alfaro, who observed the VAR review process, commented on the sequence of events. "The referee has a first impression. He says that the player had thrown (himself) trying to generate contact," Alfaro said. "Then VAR ratifies that it is a penalty, according to them."

Despite the painful loss, Alfaro expressed a sense of peace regarding his team's effort. "I leave the World Cup with peace of mind knowing that we played," he stated. However, he admitted to being sad about not advancing further. "I do not like losing at anything. And as I was telling the team in the dressing room, if you want to be a winner, the first thing you have to do is learn how to lose."

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I leave the World Cup with peace of mind knowing that we played. I am sad because I wanted to go further and defeat will never make you happy, of course.

With his contract ending this year, the 63-year-old Argentine coach is uncertain about his professional future. He conveyed a deep emotional connection to Paraguay, stating, "Today I have open wounds. I'm bleeding. I cannot really reflect because I am overwhelmed right now." He added, "For me, there's no better place than Paraguay. The country has opened up their doors, clubs have opened up their doors, the relationship I have with players, the relationship of gratitude I have with everyone."

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Today I have open wounds. I'm bleeding. I cannot really reflect because I am overwhelmed right now. I think I need to wait for things to calm down.