Paraguay Coach's Remarkable Press Conference: 'My Players Have Faced Tragedies'

Paraguay's aggressive and hard-nosed play didn't go unnoticed. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for instance, commended France for keeping their cool, admitting he wouldn't have managed it himself, according to the outspoken Swede.

While Paraguay's game plan ultimately didn't secure a victory, Alfaro expressed pride in his squad. During his remarkable post-match press conference, he singled out several players. "As I told the players; we faced opponents vying for the Ballon d'Or, players who could become the all-time leading World Cup scorers."

"We have players who never knew their parents and have endured very serious tragedies," the national coach continued. "Yet, I kept emphasizing that anything was possible. My player Matías Galarza wasn't good enough to be a starter at River Plate, but I want to make it clear: he should be a starter for any team in the world."

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill also received a mention. "Do you know how long it's been since he received a salary? He had to sell his clothes to save his daughter's life. What team wouldn't want a goalkeeper like that? That goes for all my players!"

"Hopefully, this performance will benefit Paraguay. All the money earned here must be reinvested in infrastructure, in youth development, in training professionals, building competitive teams, in never settling for less. I wanted to spark a revolution in Paraguay, which is why I leave this World Cup with a heavy heart."

• Get the latest news on the FIFA World Cup.

• Check the match schedule here, including fixtures and results.

• Listen to our World Cup football podcast.

• Don't miss a thing, download our Sportnieuws.nl App.