Julio Enciso was forced off on a camilla in tears during the first half of Paraguay’s 4-0 friendly win over Nicaragua on Friday night at the Defensores del Chaco in Asunción, leaving at 21 minutes after feeling discomfort in his right leg near the adductor area.
Enciso, 22, was replaced by Mauricio Magalhaes as Paraguay pressed on. Alejandro Romero Gamarra opened the scoring from the penalty spot at 16 minutes, Miguel Almirón doubled the lead at 41, Matías Galarza added a third at 61, and Alexandro Maidana completed the rout at 66.
The injury came in Paraguay’s final tune-up before the team’s World Cup debut: Paraguay is set to face the United States on Friday 12 June at 22:00 Argentine time in Inglewood, California, and will also meet Turkey on 20 June and Australia on 25 June in Group D.
Enciso belongs to Racing de Estrasburgo and has become one of Paraguay’s figures — he has four goals in 32 caps and was an undisputed starter under coach Gustavo Alfaro, featuring in 13 World Cup qualifying matches. His early exit therefore produces an immediate selection concern for the coach ahead of the tournament.
On the face of it the problem did not appear grave: the injury did not seem serious in principle. Still, Enciso required a camilla to leave the field and was visibly upset, which forced the federation to schedule further examination.
Paraguay is now awaiting an MRI to determine the full extent of the right-leg issue. The scan is the next definitive step for medical staff to say whether the 22-year-old will be available for the World Cup opener against the United States or if Alfaro must alter his starting plan.
The match result gives Alfaro the kind of confidence a coach wants — a 4-0 victory with contributions across the XI — but it also left an unresolved, time-sensitive question: will a player who has been a regular starter in qualifiers be fit after an injury that produced a stretcher exit despite appearing not serious?
That question is the immediate story line for Paraguay between now and Friday 12 June: the MRI will either clear Enciso and restore the expected lineup, or it will force tactical changes mere days before kickoff in Inglewood.
