Ayala - excellent in the air (Allsport)
CELSO AYALA
Position: Defender
Born: 20.08.70
Club: River Plate
Celso Ayala has been in the Paraguay national side for the last eight years, establishing a solid defensive partnership with Carlos Gamarra.
He had a major impact on the 1998 World Cup, helping Paraguay break Spanish hearts and taking France within six minutes of a penalty shoot-out.
Ayala usually operates on the right side of central defence and his main strength is in the air, where he has worked very hard on his jumping.
Although Ayala is on the small side for a centre-back, his prodigious leap makes him a dominant figure in both penalty boxes.
Over recent months he has been in and out of the team but if Cesare Maldini is looking for experienced campaigners to get the team through a difficult-looking group, Ayala will certainly figure at the back.
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