This Saturday, the Paraguayan Football Federation announced the dismissal of Mellizo, after adding a point during the first two days of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup have claimed their first victim, with only two dates played. This Saturday, The Paraguayan Football Federation announced “the completion of the process” of the Argentinian Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who spent just under two years at the head of the Albirroja.
“We wish him, as well as all his staff, the best of success, while thanking them for the dedication and commitment shown at the head of the Albirroja,” adds the brief press release from the APF.
Mellizo’s dismissal comes days after Paraguay failed to add wins during the first two days of the Qualifiers. The debut took place by hosting Peru in Ciudad del Este (and not at the Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, the team’s traditional home) with a goalless draw . Five days later, it was a 1-0 defeat against Venezuela, in Maturín. This result ended up dooming Barros Schelotto.
With one point out of six possible, The Paraguayans are in sixth position among the 10 Conmebol teams participating in the World Cup qualifiers for the tournament which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. It must be remembered that the first six in the table go directly to the World Cup, while the seventh goes to the playoffs.
The work of the coaching team of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, which also includes his brother Gustavo as assistant, He never finished convincing. Albirroja’s performance during his mandate had triggered a flood of criticism from the local press. This dismissal prematurely ends a management that began on October 23, 2021 and which lasted 17 matches.
The career of the trans-Andean strategist developed at Lanús and Boca Juniors, in his country, then he went to Los Angeles Galaxy, in the United States. In Paraguay, it was the former footballer’s first experience at the head of a national team, with an unsatisfactory result. Now the APF must define the new coach of the senior team, as the next qualifying matches are fast approaching.
On the October double date, the Paraguayans are scheduled to visit Argentina and later host Bolivia. To close 2023, they must travel to La Roja for the fifth day and then face Colombia at home.
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Source: Latercera
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