DIEGO GAVILAN’S nickname is “Pampero”, which means “horse that runs like the wind”. He was not exactly a thoroughbred as he trotted around harmlessly during his time at Newcastle United, but to judge from his optimism, his failure to adapt to English football does not imply that Paraguay will fail to test England this summer.

Gavilan joined Newcastle in 2000 for £2 million but he played only eight times. Repeatedly farmed out on loan, he eventually escaped to Mexico for good. The attacking midfield player was the first Paraguayan to appear in England and came on in the second half in Cardiff on Wednesday night as Wales drew 0-0 with England’s first World Cup finals opponents.

The South Americans lost their shape after a bright start but still created several good opportunities and looked comfortable on the ball. “The Paraguayan team has experience and some young players, so everybody knows their role. We have players who play in Europe but we have one team, it is very solid, strong as a team,” the 26-year-old said.

Goran Goransson, a scout for the Swedish FA assigned to track Anibal Ruiz’s side, backed Gavilan’s positivity. “Their players are technically strong, they can play the short game and they can also attack with long passes,” he said. “Their defence is pretty good and they are well organised.”

Gavilan is pleased that Paraguay will get their most arduous group B fixture out of the way early. “England will be the most difficult opponent to play in the group. Every player is a big star, they’re all very good players. We always see the Premiership,” he said. “But it is always very different at a World Cup; from here we have a long time to train, to be better as a squad, as a team.

“I think (Frank) Lampard is tremendous. He starts in his own half with a run and finishes with a goal, he is always scoring. Lampard is important, and (Steven) Gerrard as well. They play differently to South American players, they go box to box, the whole team does.”

Paraguay’s workrate is respectable, too. “They don’t have any slouches,” John Toshack, the Wales manager, said. As for the prospects of Gavilan stunning England: Hélder Postiga’s equaliser for Portugal in Euro 2004 is proof that misfits can menace.

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