Paraguay defender Alonso: 'We made mistakes that cannot be made at this competition'

Paraguay defender Junior Alonso did not shy away from self-criticism after his team's significant loss to the United States in their World Cup debut. Alonso acknowledged the opponent's superior performance, especially during the first half, and pointed to tactical missteps as key factors in the defeat. He stressed that errors of this magnitude are unforgivable at the World Cup stage.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't get a good result; the opposing team was better than us in the first half, much more intense," Alonso stated. "They dominated the entire first half and took advantage of their opportunities. Unfortunately, we made those mistakes, and we know that in this competition, they cannot be made; so, we must learn from it so it doesn't happen again in the next two matches."

Alonso gave credit to the United States, describing them as more dynamic, faster, and more intense, which allowed them to build a substantial lead. He explained that Paraguay struggled to adapt its defensive pressure and marking effectively against the U.S. team's mobility, leading to them being forced into a very deep defensive block.

Despite attempts by the coaching staff to alter the team's approach in the second half, the deficit proved too large to overcome. Alonso concluded that the team must learn from this high-level competition experience, as such errors can lead to early elimination. The focus now shifts to correcting these issues quickly for their remaining matches.

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Unfortunately, we couldn't get a good result; the opposing team was better than us in the first half, much more intense. They dominated the entire first half and took advantage of their opportunities. Unfortunately, we made those mistakes, and we know that in this competition, they cannot be made; so, we must learn from it so it doesn't happen again in the next two matches.