|
Paraguay's unquestioned team leader, goalkeeper Jose
Luis Chilavert is as vociferous and outrageous as he
is reliable in his role as custodian between the goalposts.
There was ample evidence of Chilavert's fiery temper
for the entire soccer world to see when he spat in the
face of Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos during a South
American qualifying game last year. FIFA recently upheld
a three-game suspension, the last two games of which
the keeper will be forced to serve during Paraguay's
first two games at the World Cup, leaving Chilavert's
understudy Ricardo Tavarelli to fill in.
While he'll be forced to watch those games for the
sidelines, there's no question that Chilavert's spirit
and presence will be felt on the pitch by his teammates.
"I'm an important part of the team," he said.
"But it is disrespectful to think the team won't
function because I'm not there.
"We are going to show the world that this is a
team full of potential and experience."
Chilavert made his professional soccer debut when he
was only 15, suiting up for Sportivo Luqueno in Paraguay's
lower divisions. He made his international debut for
Paraguay's national team in 1989 after having packed
his bags and moved to Argentina to play for San Lorenzo.
After four years in Argentina, he left for Spain, where
he signed for Real Zaragoza. Chilavert's Spanish excursion
ended in 1991, when he was relegated to second-choice
keeper after two seasons as a starter.
He left Spain and returned to Argentina to play for
Velez Sarsfield. This was a turning point in his career,
as he lead the team to the Argentine league title in
1993, 1995 and 1996, and the Copa Libertadores (the
South American club championship) and Toyota Cup in
1994. He was also voted World Goalkeeper of the Year
in 1995 and 1997.
But it was at the 1998 World Cup where Chilavert really
made his name, allowing only two goals in taking Paraguay
into a second-round match with France, who needed an
extra-time goal to dispatch the upstarts.
"I am the best in the world," Chilavert had
boasted before the tournament. He backed up the claim
and was named the World Cup's top keeper.
After 10 seasons with Velez Sarsfield, he returned
to Europe in 2000 to assume goalkeeping duties for French
club Strasbourg.
His goalkeeping accolades speak for themselves, but
how many keepers can boast of their scoring prowess?
A free kick and penalty shot specialist, Chilavert
has over 50 goals to his credit - including eight for
the national team - and has promised to become the first
goalkeeper in World Cup history to score a goal at this
year's tournament. That's not where his ambitions for
this World Cup end, either.
"In 1998, Paraguay lacked experience," he
said. "Even so, we pushed France to their limits.
Now we have a great team…anything could happen."
With files from Associated Press
|
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
