Santa Cruz, Valdez out of Paraguay Squad

Roque Santa Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez have both been left out of the squad picked by Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino for international friendlies this month against Mexico and the United States.
Martino, who guided Paraguay to the second round of the World Cup last year, said he left the two out so they could play important club matches. Santa Cruz plays for English club Blackburn and Valdez is with Spanish club Hercules.
Paraguay will look to Argentina-born Lucas Barrios, who plays with Borussia Dortmund, for its scoring punch.
Paraguay faces Mexico in Oakland, California, on March 26 and the United States in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 29.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno).
Defedners: Paulo Da Silva (Zaragoza), Victor Hugo Mareco (Brescia), Marcos Caceres (Racing), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Dario Veron (Pumas), Miguel Samudio (Libertad).
Midfielders: Enrique Vera (Liga de Quito), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys), Osmar Molinas (Olimpia), Cristian Riveros (Sunderland), Nestor Ortigoza (San Lorenzo), Celso Ortiz (AZ Alkmaar), Edgar Barreto (Atalanta).
Forwards: Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca); Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund).