Martino aims for a win
Having reached their first Copa America final in 32 years, Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino wants his men to achieve another first at this year's trophy match against Uruguay on Sunday. A win.
That's because the Albirroja, champions in 1953 and 1979, have made it this far by drawing all five of their games over 90 minutes, first in the group stage and then over 120 minutes against Brazil, then Venezuela, both squeezed out only on penalties.
Martino, who is banned from the dugout after being suspended for an altercation with the fourth official in the Venezuela semi and then indulging in some over-enthusiastic verbal jousting with counterpart Cesar Farias, insisted his side did not go out with the intention of drawing games.
"If a game ends all-square maybe we should go back to the dressing room and not bother with penalties," he asked rhetorically in a pre-final press conference on Friday.
He prefers to see that the teams who have got to the final "have proved to be the most consistent ones.
Martino, who was cagey on Sunday's-line up - though striker Roque Santa Cruz is out with injury - praised a Uruguayan side which has confirmed its renaissance under Oscar Tabarez, who led them to the World Cup semi-final last summer.
"They are a very versatile side and work hard for each other."
Martino has been mooted as a successor for Sergio Batista with Argentina should the latter be sacked next week, as appeared increasingly likely with his Federation to meet Monday amid media reports he has lost the support of several officials.
Earlier in the week, he said it was not for him to comment on the issue.
On his bannning from the bench, Martino, said regretfully: "I acknowledge I made a mistake."
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