'Just a roadrunner. Little intelligence' - How Paraguay fans assessed Portsmouth winger Gustavo Caballero's World Cup Finals trial
Pompey winger Gustavo Caballero made his senior debut for Paraguay as a second-half substitute against Greece on Friday night - but did his performance impress fans back in his native homeland?
Gustavo Caballero made his senior international debut for Paraguay on Friday night.
The Pompey winger, who is on loan at Fratton Park from Brazilian side Santos, came on as a second-half substitute in La Albirroja’s 1-0 victory over Greece in Piraeus.
Replacing former Brighton forward Julio Enciso on 60 minutes, Caballero was one of nine substitutes introduced to the action by boss Gustavo Alfaro, who is attempting to finalise his plans for this summer’s World Cup Finals.
Although given only 21 minutes, it was an opportunity for the 24-year-old to stake his claim for a place on the plane and to be included in the 26-man squad that will take on co-hosts USA, Australia and the winner of play-off route C, Kosovo or Turkey in three months time.
Tuesday’s friendly against Morocoo should provide the Blues winger with another opportunity.
But what did Paraguay fans make of Caballero’s second-half appearance off the bench and do they believe he showed enough to be considered a player who should represent them on the biggest stage in world football?
Here’s what we discovered when we went through reaction to the forward’s showing against Greece on X.
What Paraguay fans have been saying about Gustavo Caballero debut
@guillegomezc76: There are times when life gives you just one chance to prove you're ready for the challenge. Caballero is far from deserving a place.
@miggys_22: Nothing out of the ordinary, it was always known that he's just a roadrunner, he might be useful in a favorable context, but there are players who can contribute much more.
@AdilsonArguello: He has so much speed that outruns his brain, for the World Cup one of those can serve, he trips, goal against Norway and we qualify.
@Alanruizdiaz3: It reminds me of Almiron in his early days with the national team, when he'd just run around like a madman.
@freed_inge: The phrase "intelligence is chasing you, but you're faster" applies perfectly to Gustavo Caballero, lots of speed, little intelligence
@AlvaNuno: He squandered his opportunity.
@r4sm1912: Gustavo Caballero is fast but way too dumb.
@Imperiodan_jm: It has good speed but lacks intelligence – we're not here to wait for it; by 2030, if ihegets his act together.
@DARIOMANUE78597: We don't have time to wait for it. It's green. Diego González showed much more in the same time.
@alexcdepy: A dead man without a brain has always been an akanê player ever since we saw him play; we can't keep calling up second-division players.
@CandiaAlci32124: Good, but it's still got a long way to go.
@sebassbarrios: Gustavo Caballero played HORRIBLY, and aside from a work of art against Morocco, I don't think he'll make it to the World Cup.
@rodripau88: HAS SPEED BUT IN THE TWO INSTANCES HE HAD HE MADE BAD DECISIONS.
@chrisperezz7: Gustavo Caballero has been drowning since he came on – I don't know if the stage scared him, but the context was tailor-made for him, and he just couldn't find the nerve.