Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz resigns following Copa America exit

Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz resigned Sunday following his team’s first-round exit at the Copa America Centenario, the Paraguay Football Federation said.

Paraguay defender Paulo da Silva (L) at a press conference with coach Ramon Diaz in Philadelphia on the eve of Paraguay's Copa America Group A first round match against the US.(AFP Photo)

Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz resigned Sunday following his team’s first-round exit at the Copa America Centenario, the Paraguay Football Federation said.

“Following Paraguay’s elimination from the Copa America Centenario, Ramon Diaz has confirmed his resignation as national team coach with immediate effect,” the federation said in a statement.

Paraguay were dumped out of the tournament after collecting just one point from three games, a draw against Costa Rica.

Their exit was confirmed on Saturday after they lost a must-win game to the United States, who advanced from Group A along with Colombia.

Diaz, a former Argentina international, had taken over as Paraguay coach in 2014, successfully guiding the team to the semi-finals of the competition last year in Chile.