Nelson Haedo Valdez announced his arrival to Seattle with a soaring header goal in the 60th minute on a corner kick by Erik Friberg. Following the match, Coach Sigi Schmid noted that right now, “the key is service.” Friberg’s crossing abilities are refreshing for a Sounders side that has struggled all summer to connect on corners and free kicks.

Group A

Schedule: Costa Rica (6/4 Orlando, FL),  Columbia (6/7 Pasadena, CA), and United States (6/11 Philadelphia, PA)

Head Coach: Ramon Diaz

Best previous finish in Copa America: Winners 1959 and 1979

Players to keep an eye on: Justo Villar, Edgar Benitez, Dario Lezcano, Antonio Sanabria, and Derlis Gonzalez

Outlook: A side that was in rebuild mode after qualifying for four consecutive World Cups Paraguay in a nation that is still in with a shout of qualification for Russia 2018.

Paraguay has always been a side that is a fighter. Works for everything they can get as a team without superstars.

As a competitive nation that hasn’t had a certified super star since Salvador Cabanas was shot manager Ramon Diaz has been reforming this side with mixture of Paraguayan based players, European based players and those in other leagues around the Western Hemisphere.

With a group like this there is every chance that Paraguay can get through as group runners up playing the underdog role. A final match against the United States could still mean that progression will need go through the hosts.

A strong start against Costa Rica followed by a match against Columbia could see the Albirroja going through to the knockout phase and if that comes to pass all beware. Paraguay are specialists when it comes to penalty shootouts.

Did you know? Paraguay has not lost a group stage match since the 2007 Copa America where they were also with Columbia and the United States whom they beat by a combined scoreline of 8-1.