LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- South American nations have always played a major part in the world of football , and when it comes to the World Cup they are considered among the main contenders every time . But this time around there may be a new threat from the continent making its mark internationally . Nelson Valdez ( left ) celebrates his goal against Venezuela , Tuesday , to keep Paraguay top in qualifying . Out of 18 World Cup Finals to date , a South American team has won the competition nine times , demonstrating that although Europe may be where the money is , the other side of the Atlantic has the raw talent . Generally speaking , however , the continent 's dominance has been largely down to two countries : Brazil , who have won the title an astonishing five times ; and Argentina , who have made it to the tournament 's final match four times and taken the trophy home twice . The rest of the continent has rarely played a major part in the proceedings . Now , though , as the qualifying stages for the 2010 World Cup Finals gather speed , the two giants are being put to shame by a footballing nation that has , until now , had very limited success at international events : Paraguay . Having only qualified for the finals seven times , and never made it further than the second round of the competition , Paraguay are n't usually seen as a serious threat to the big international teams , but this year the bookmakers may have to take a serious look at the small country from the center of the continent , with a population of just 6.1 million . Following Tuesday night 's 2-0 victory over Venezuela , Paraguay cemented their position at the top of the South American qualifying group , with 17 points from eight matches -- four points clear of the faltering Argentina and Brazil , who share second place . So far in the group , the Paraguayans have recorded a 2-0 home win over Brazil and managed to secure a 1-1 draw away to the recent Olympic champions Argentina , proving they can keep up with the best in the world , even without one of their star players , striker Roque Santa Cruz , who was injured for the Buenos Aires fixture . So , how are they managing it ? And can they continue this form through the qualifiers and into the finals themselves ? Since 2006 , the team has undergone some radical changes . A lot of big names in the squad and behind the scenes left the team following Paraguay 's relatively poor performance in the World Cup Finals in Germany . So it was goodbye to the old , including Paraguay 's most capped player , Carlos Gamarra and coach , Anibal Ruiz , who has been replaced by Argentine Gerardo `` Tata '' Martino . But this left the door open for a whole new face for the nation 's team . And the new breed of players clearly have a lot of skill , impressing people all over the world . Players like Santa Cruz , for the English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers , and Edgar Barreto , an integral part of the Reggina Calcio squad in Italy 's Serie A , represent Paraguay 's swelling talent in the major European leagues . The Paraguayan presence in the world 's top leagues , shows the depth of their squad , and it also means players will be given the benefit of experiencing top level football on a regular basis ; something that can only aid the development of an already talented player . The style the team plays -- emphasizing a strength in attack , boosted by Santa Cruz and his gifted strike partners , Club America 's Salvador Cabanas and Borussia Dortmund 's Nelson Valdez -- hints at a tactical change , as well . In the past , the Paraguayans have relied heavily on a solid defense to secure results , and not always had the goals to back that up . Now , although the defense is still strong -- featuring Boca Juniors regular Claudio Morel Rodriguez , and the powerful partnership of Paulo Da Silva and Julio Cesar Caceres -- there is some flair up front , which the manager is capitalizing on . So , with an influx of good players , who are getting the necessary top level experience and a manager who knows how to get the most out of his team , this may be an opportunity for a new country to step to the foreground from South America and end the dominance of Brazil and Argentina . As the table stands now , Paraguay are looking good to qualify , and if they can exercise the same level of skill they have shown in the opening eight matches , they could top the group and head to South Africa as the team to watch in the finals .
In the past Brazil and Paraguay have dominated South American football . Paraguay are challenging , beating Brazil and topping World Cup qualifying ##s . The team has undergone a reshape since 2006 , many new , talented players . Experience of playing in major leagues across the world helps player development .