Don’t get me wrong, when the World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11, my complete fandom will be behind coach Bob Bradley and the United States National Team.
My red, white and blue blood would allow nothing less.
But there is another team I will silently be pulling for when the grand event celebrating the sport the rest of the world calls football begins.
Paraguay formed its national team 100 years ago this summer and has had little success during the past century — the team has never advanced past the second round of the World Cup and has qualified for the tournament just seven times.
This January, things got worse. Tragedy struck the team and the nation when one of the team’s best players, Salvador Cabanas, was shot in the head in Mexico City.
There was little hope given for his recovery.
But just 22 days after the tragic shooting, Cabanas miraculously emerged from the intensive care unit and vowed to play in the World Cup.
With a bullet still lodged in his head, the team announced this week that Cabanas will not be able to make a return this summer, adding that he is still more than a year away from being able to play.
Though he won’t be on the field with his team, the Paraguay squad will carry their Cabanas’ courage with them on the world stage.
It’s hard not cheer for a story like that.
