Copa America: Can Larissa Riquelme Inspire Paraguay To Victory Against Brazil?

Copa the United States is the symbol of supremacy among South American footy nations. I would not blame the reader in case you wondered why someone would support Paraguay ahead of their more accomplished rivals like Brazil & Argentina.

The reason is actually not that hard to see. Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme, who had promised to strip if her national team won the FIFA World Cup in 2010, is at it again. Riquelme has times again promised to run through Asuncion, the capital city of Paraguay, in her birthday suit, if Paraguay were to win the Copa the United States.

At the World Cup last year, the Paraguayan lingerie model's promise made Paraguay play harder, until they were beaten by eventual champions France. Footy fans can expect another inspired performance from Paraguay, in Argentina, the venue of the Copa the United States, this year. As Riquelme kept her promise, despite Paraguay's exit from the event.

Paraguay, who are in Group B with Brazil, Venezuela & Ecuador, have already played out a goalless stalemate with Ecuador, in their first match, & their next is against Brazil, in Cordoba. Brazil was held to a goalless draw, by Venezuela, & can be expected to make it hard for Paraguay.

"If Paraguay wins the Copa the United States then I shall pose nude on the pitch,'' Riquelme is reported by a newspaper as having said before the match against Ecuador.

Argentina is going through a chilled Southern Hemispheric winter with temperatures falling below zero, but that did not cease Riquelme from appearing before fans at the Ecuador game in a sleeveless top in her country's colors of red & white, thereby evoking a warm response from Paraguayan & Ecuadoran fans similar.

But Ecuadoran keeper Marcelo Elizaga was clearly not of them. They put up an amazing show between the Ecuador posts, to thwart Paraguay's try to take Riquelme step closer to her promise. Roque

Roque Santa Cruz came close to scoring for Paraguay but Elizaga was equal to the task of keeping the Blackburn striker's header out. Assisted by Estigarribia, Edgar Barreto had another lovely scoring chance, from point-blank range, but again, Elizaga was on the spot to punch the ball away.

Beating the Brazilians is not beyond the Paraguayans who did it in 1999, when they crafted a 3-0 win at home. Paraguay will be looking to Roque Santa Cruz, their mercurial striker, to draw inspiration from Riquelme's promise, in the event that they are to acquit themselves with honor against the mighty Brazilians.