Paraguay coach denies insulting Deschamps, calls accusations 'unthinkable'

Gustavo Alfaro, the Argentine coach of Paraguay, has refuted claims that his players and staff insulted French coach Didier Deschamps and his team during their recent World Cup match. Alfaro asserted that while football is a sport of intense confrontation, his team maintained respect and did not harbor animosity.

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We cannot fall so low in football. Never.

"Football is a sport of confrontations, of duels. But everything begins and ends on the field," Alfaro explained. He acknowledged that tensions and friction are part of the game but insisted that his team never sought to go beyond the boundaries of fair play. He mentioned that while there might have been some incidents, he instructed his players to remain calm and keep all exchanges on the pitch.

Alfaro recounted that immediately after the final whistle, he approached Deschamps to congratulate him and wish him luck in reaching the final and winning the World Cup. He expressed deep respect and admiration for Deschamps, noting they had spoken before the match and during the World Cup draw. Alfaro firmly denied any insults directed at Deschamps' mother, stating, "We cannot fall so low in football. Never."

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Football is a sport of confrontations, of duels. But everything begins and ends on the field.

He reiterated that his staff would never behave in such a manner and that any disputes, such as those surrounding VAR decisions or penalty calls, were part of the game's intensity. Alfaro concluded by emphasizing the distinction between opponents on the field and enemies off it, highlighting that the match was a competition where both teams fought hard, but the rivalry ended with the final whistle.

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We are opponents, not enemies.