Paraguay coach Alfaro: 'I trust my players to death' ahead of 'final' vs. Turkey

Paraguay's national team coach Gustavo Alfaro declared his unwavering "deathly" confidence in his squad, despite a resounding 4-1 defeat in their Copa America debut against the United States. Alfaro emphasized that he trusts the players from the moment he took charge.

Looking ahead to the crucial match against Turkey, Alfaro characterized it as a "final." He indicated that he does not plan significant alterations to the starting eleven that faced the U.S., aiming to provide stability and confidence to his players. "Today in football it is very easy to discard, so I choose not to put them through a meat grinder because one can learn even from the most painful defeats," Alfaro stated.

Despite the coach's public support, Paraguayan sports media has speculated about potential lineup changes. Reports suggest midfielder Matías Galarza might replace Damián Bobadilla, and forward Isidro Pitta could come in for Antonio Sanabria. Paraguay currently sits at the bottom of Group D following their opening loss, with the United States leading the group after their decisive win.

Australia is in second place after a surprising 2-0 victory over Turkey. Paraguay's final group stage match will be against Australia on June 25. The team qualified for the World Cup by securing one of the six direct spots available to CONMEBOL nations.