Paraguay faces Ecuador in their debut of the Copa America’s Group B

Paraguay may be one of the lesser lights in the South American footballing firmament - but they have designs on making a strong Copa America showing and plan to make short work of Ecuador on Sunday.

Although Ecuador's neighbors Bolivia have shown that Andean nations can play a bit by almost shocking Argentina in Friday's curtain-raiser, Paraguay have experienced heads on board in the shape of striker Roque Santa Cruz and attacking partner Lucas Barrios.

Brazil, bidding for a third straight continental title, is hothouse favorites to top Group B.

But second place is up for grabs and Santa Cruz intends to get off to a flier and ensure that the Paraguayans work up some momentum before facing the ‘auriverde’ in Cordoba next Saturday.

"I have faith in this team and we want to make a strong pitch for the Copa. We can put teams under pressure and have strong attacking potential," insisted the 29-year-old, who spent part of last season on loan from megabucks Manchester City with former club Blackburn.

Santa Cruz is a Copa stalwart having made his tournament debut at 17 while he notched a treble against Colombia at the last edition in Venezuela in 2007.

The meeting will be held Sunday at 18H30 local (21H30 GMT) on Brigadier General Estanislao López stadium in Santa Fe, best known as the "graveyard of the elephants."

Paraguay, under Argentinian coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, sees themselves as a dark horse bet though they have not won the event since 1979.

Winger Cristian Riveros says the team will respect Ecuador but at the same time he feels that "they don't have the players they did in 2002 and 2006" when the Andeans reached the World Cup final stages.

Even so, Riveros notes that "they have players starring in very competitive leagues," such as Manchester United's Diego Valencia. "But we are ready to lay it all on the line and go a long way in this tournament," said Riveros.

Ecuador Michael Arroyo insists that Paraguay will not have things their own way. "Paraguay is a tough team - but we have had them watched. And we know how to take them on," said the midfielder, who plays with San Luis in Mexico.

Ecuador have managed only two fourth places in their previous best Copa showings, in 1959 and 1993, both times playing at home.

They are one of only three South American sides not to have won the tournament, the others being Chile and Venezuela.

Under orders from referee Sergio Pezzotta, who will be assisted on the lines by fellow Peruvian Ricardo Casas and Luis Abadie.

Probable lineups of the match:

Paraguay: 1-Justo Villar, 3-Iván Piris, 14-Paulo Da Silva, 2-Darío Verón, 17-Aureliano Torres, 8-Edgar Barreto, 20-Néstor Ortigoza, 16-Cristian Riveros, 21-Marcelo Estigarribia, 9-Roque Santa Cruz and 19-Lucas Barrios. Coach: Gerardo Martino.

Ecuador: 1-Marcelo Elizaga, 13-Néicer Reasco, 19-Norberto Araujo, 3-Frickson Erazo, 10-Walter Ayoví, 14-Segundo Castillo, 6-Cristian Noboa, 16-Antonio Valencia, 7-Michel Arroyo or 8-Edison Méndez, 11-Christian Benítez and 9-Felipe Caicedo. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda.
 
The stars of the game:

Paraguay: Paraguayan national team invests in the experienced former striker Roque Santa Cruz. The forward has 29 years, comes to his third Copa America, being the player who did the most goals among the squad with 24 goals. Other stars of the team are Justo Villar, Paulo da Silva and Lucas Barrios.

Ecuador: In the Ecuadorian they have as its biggest star Antonio Valencia. Manchester United midfielder has been evolving every year his football and becoming one of the best players in South America, and even after a serious injury last year, he has fully recovered to lead Ecuador. Other stars are Christian Noboa and Felipe Caicedo.

Curiosities of the Confrontation:

- This confrontation has happened 33 times, with 19 wins for Paraguay, and 10 victories for Ecuador, 4 ties. Paraguay scored 62 goals and Ecuador scored 41 times.

- For the Copa America, were 14 games, with nine wins of Paraguay, Ecuador won three and the confront has two ties. Paraguay scored 26 times and Ecuador scored 15 goals.

- The top scorer of the Copa America clash is Marin with three goals.

- Marcelo Elizaga, goalkeeper of Ecuador, is the oldest player in this edition of the Copa America, with 39 years.

- Paraguay is the most "foreign" team out of the 12 participants, with three Argentines in the cast, plus the coach Gerardo Martino.

- Ecuador has never won the Copa America. The team participated 25 times.

The last duel:

In the last duel, Paraguay and Ecuador had a draw. The tie ended 1-1, held in Quito, Ecuador, in 2009. The game was valid for the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. The goals were scored by Chistian Noboa, Ecuador and Edge Benítez, Paraguay. The detail is that the two players left the bench to score the goals of their teams.