Alfaro insists Paraguay no underdogs after World Cup turnaround against Turkey

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a] were stunned when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/galarza-matias/v7raiufc/"]Matias Galarza[/a] put [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]‌Paraguay[/a] ahead 64 seconds after kick-off with a ‌superb long-range strike.[/p][p]Paraguay then had to withstand waves of Turkish ‌attacks, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/almiron-miguel/AwqEUHxT/"]Miguel Almiron[/a]'s dismissal in first-half stoppage time ‌making the task even tougher for the South Americans.[/p][p][b]"We can face better teams and more important or prestigious opponents, we respect ‌this, but we are never going to ⁠feel underdogs or inferior ‌to any other opponents,"[/b] Alfaro told a press conference.[/p][p][b]"We will always ​give our best and represent our jersey in the best possible way."[/b][/p][p]Paraguay, playing in their first ​World Cup since 2010, had come in for heavy criticism following the 4-1 hammering dished out by co-hosts the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]⁠United States[/a] in ​their group opener.[/p][embed guid="ab621307-ec37-4010-b832-4ace8e3aec66" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2068199162135409068" social-type="twitter" /][p]Alfaro took aim at the media on the eve of Friday's match, telling them to hold him accountable and leave his players alone.[/p][p]Paraguay's win eliminated Turkey and ‌confirmed the US as group winners following their 2-0 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] earlier on Friday.[/p][p]Paraguay return to the San Francisco Bay Area on June 25 to play their final group match against the Australians.[/p][p]Alfaro said the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/paraguay-YaNlqp6j/turkey-7s-QeijuHo5/?mid=KnyuOLXH"]win over Turkey[/a] was not about tactics or strategy, but the spirit of his players.[/p][p][b]"When we won the game when the final whistle was blown, I couldn't believe it,"[/b] ‌he said.[/p][p][b]"Anyway, I told my players, in line with ​what I said earlier, that I wanted to see ‌that joy when they look each other in the eyes, and you don't need any words.[/b][/p][p][b]"Everything is boiling, your blood, your chests, everything. And I told them that's what I wanted to see. I want ⁠that fighting spirit ... and ⁠even if people think ‌we're dead, we're not dead."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]