Player profile

The Valladolid keeper heads to his third World Cup having played just eight minutes at the previous two tournaments. An unused squad member in 2002, he injured his ankle in the opening game against England four years later. After leaving the pitch in tears, he sat out the rest of the tournament.

He captains Paraguay when veteran Denis Caniza is not involved. Villar missed only one game in qualifying, sitting out the 4-2 defeat in Bolivia through injury, and kept clean sheets in home wins against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

Villar is likely to leave Valladolid this summer following their relegation from La Liga. He has been linked with a move to River Plate, but says he would prefer to remain in Spain. He joined Valladolid in 2008 after four years with Argentine side Newell’s Old Boys.

His father was an amateur keeper but Villar alternated between attack and defence as a youngster. Unlike famous Paraguayan keeper Jose Chilavert, who was renowned for scoring from free-kicks and penalties, Villar’s attacking instincts waned over the years: “I’m not one take too many risks. I try to do my job with my hands not my mouth,” he said.