Santa Cruz fit for England

Cardozo, 35, the all-time top scorer for his country, suffered a torn thigh muscle and was ruled out of action for three weeks by the Paraguayan doctor Osvaldo Pangrazio.

Coach Anibal Ruiz called up Dante Lopez, 22, who plays for Genoa in Italy, as his replacement. He was expected to join the squad late on Tuesday evening.

Cardozo, a veteran of Paraguay's last two World Cup campaigns in France and Korea, said the injury had shattered his dreams;

"I had hoped to play in these finals and then retire from international football after the World Cup," he said. "It is very sad for me."

Ruiz, the Uruguayan-born coach who has breathed new life into Paraguay, said the loss of Cardozo was a blow, but that the availability of Santa Cruz was very important.

"He is fit to play and he has no problems," he said, after a training session on Tuesday evening during which the squad practiced defending set-pieces in anticipation of an aerial attack from England in Frankfurt in their opening Group B fixture.

Santa Cruz said: "I am looking forward to this game. England are a very strong team with great players, but we believe in ourselves and we have worked hard and prepared well."

He said he felt entirely recovered from the tendinitis in his knee which had bothered him in recent weeks.

"I am fit and we are ready to do our best against England," he said. "We want to make our country proud of the team."