Paraguay see off Greeks in World Cup workout

Paraguay continued their World Cup preparations with a 2-0 friendly win over fellow qualifiers Greece, the 2004 European champions, in the Swiss town of Winterthur on Wednesday.

Enrique Vera scored the opener after eight minutes and in-form Lucas Barrios added a second goal on 25 minutes to cheer the South Americans, coached by Gerardo Martino.

Paraguay begin their World Cup campaign against Italy in Cape Town on June 14 and will also face New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F.

Greece were drawn alongside Nigeria, South Korea and two-time champions Argentina in Group B.

Barrios shone in the German Bundesliga this season with Borussia Dortmund and was drafted into the Paraguay squad to cover for the absence of fellow striker Salvador Cabanas, who will miss the tournament after being shot in the head last year in a bar in Mexico.

Barrios was born in Argentina but obtained his Paraguayan nationality through his mother and he has scored in his last three outings in the national colours.

Paraguay gave Brazil a run for their money for top spot in the South American qualifying programme and will hope to reach the second phase in South Africa, despite facing the toughest imaginable start against the Italians.

Paraguay have shown mixed warm-up form, as they saw off North Korea as well as Greece but drew with Ivory Coast and lost 2-1 to the Republic of Ireland.

Otto Rehhagel, meanwhile, has work to do as he tries to conjure more surprises after his stellar achievement of leading the Greeks to the European crown six years ago.

Central American qualifiers Honduras, who face Spain, Switzerland and Chile in Group H, recorded a goalless draw with Azerbaijan in a friendly game in Austria on Wednesday.