Elimination deeply painful: Paraguay Coach

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BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) World Cup elimination was hard to swallow for Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz after his side lost 1-0 to Sweden yesterday, their second defeat in a row in Group B.

Ruiz gave a brief news conference, refused to answer questions and left.

''Sweden had more opportunities to score, they had more possession,'' he said. ''It hurts but we have to congratulate the other team.

''Let me say that it is really deeply painful. There are no excuses, we just couldn't reach our goal.'' Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz said his team's final ball proved their downfall.

''We played a good match, we tried hard, but what was lacking was that last pass, that last push that you need to score,'' said Cruz.

Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who headed the 89th-minute winner for Sweden, said: ''For much of the match we had the same problem as before.

''We created a lot of chances but couldn't score. Fortunately this time we ended up scoring.''

REUTERS