Cuevas will give Paraguay options in attack

The Pachuca player joins a powerful attacking group which includes Bayern Munich's fit-again Roque Santa Cruz and Werder Bremen's Nelson Haedo Valdez.

Coach Anibal Ruiz resisted the temptation to spring any surprises.

There was a tried and tested flavour to his squad and veteran Roberto Acuna has been selected for his third World Cup.

Ruiz defended his selection against criticism that it was too old to make an impact.

"Those players who are bound for the World Cup are the same athletes who fought for Paraguay's berth in the qualifying process," he said.

"A generational changeover has been made without any complications.

"We have many young assets who have the backing of those with more experience."

As well as Acuna there are a number of veterans including defender Denis Caniza, captain Carlos Gamarra and forward Jose Cardozo, who is the old man of the squad at 36.

However, there are also a number of youngsters including 18-year-old midfielder Jose Montiel and key strikers Santa Cruz, who is 25, and 22-year-old Haedo Valdez.

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Newell's Old Boys), Aldo Bobadilla (Libertad), Derlis Gomez (Sportivo Luqueno)

Defenders: Denis Caniza (unattached), Carlos Gamarra (Palmeiras), Julio Cesar Caceres (River Plate), Delio Toledo (Real Zaragoza), Paulo Da Silva (Toluca), Julio Cesar Mansur (Guarani), Jorge Nunez (Estudiantes)

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (NEC Nijmegen), Roberto Acuna (Deportivo La Coruna), Carlos Humberto Paredes (Reggina), Julio Dos Santos (Bayern Munich), Cristian Riveros, Carlos Bonet (both Libertad), Jose Montiel (Olimpia), Diego Gavilan (Newell's Old Boys)

Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Bayern Munich), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Werder Bremen), Jose Saturnino Cardozo (unattached), Salvador Cabanas (Jaguares), Nelson Cuevas (Pachuca)