Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz is riled by suggestions his side are a defensive outfit as he prepares to lead his country into their seventh World Cup finals.

Drawn in Group B in Germany along with England, Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago after finishing fourth in the South American qualifying group, they have been widely criticised at home and abroad for their defensive tactics during their qualification campaign.

But the 63-year-old has seen enough during his career to blow that theory out of the water.

"A good side is neither offensive, or defensive. A team cannot be just one or the other it is all about having a balanced side," Ruiz told PA Sport.

"A side needs to be able to defend as a unit, win the ball and then convert to the attack quickly. Balanced sides are good at every aspect of play and that is what we aspire to. We are not merely a defensive side."

The facts back his assertions to some extent. With 23 goals scored in qualifying and the same number conceded over 18 games, Paraguay could not be classed as either one or the other.

The "Albirojas" have traditionally put out ruggedly defensive sides but under Ruiz they have developed something of a sting in the tail as he has successfully integrated a crop of exciting youngsters among his seasoned old-timers.

He was rewarded for his achievements with Paraguay in December 2005, when he was voted American coach of the year by Uruguay's El Pais newspaper, the most prestigious award of its kind on the continent.

Journalists from across the continent selected him ahead of better known rivals such as Brazil's Carlos Alberto Parreira and Argentina's Jose Pekerman.

Ruiz was born in Salto, Uruguay on December 30, 1942, and joined first division Danubio as a player in 1962.

An attacking midfielder, he went on to play for a number of clubs in his native country, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Costa Rica.

Once he had hung up his boots he started work as number two to compatriot and former Barcelona player Luis Cubilla, who became coach of Uruguayan side Nacional in 1961.

Spells with Paraguay's Olimpia, Argentina's Newell's Old Boys and River Plate followed before he set out on his own, with his first post as head coach at Olimpia in 1985.

He gained a wide experience in coaching roles throughout Central and South America working with various clubs in Uruguay, Mexico and Ecuador, and even had a spell as national team coach of El Salvador in 1992.

He was Paraguay's youth team coach in 2003, just after the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, and was brought in on a caretaker basis following the departure of Cesare Maldini.

The ageing Italian's tenure had been contentious as he was dropped into lead the side at the start of 2002, ousting Sergio Markarian who had steered the side through qualification, even though he did not speak Spanish.

Ruiz was given the job on a permanent basis for the World Cup qualification campaign for Germany.

He is famed for spending a long time studying opponents and for having a very detailed approach to the setting out of his side.

He is an exacting coach who has won over the players despite suffering a campaign to unseat him midway through the qualifiers.

The early part of 2005 was a tough time for Ruiz and a 4-1 hammering away to Brazil in June almost saw him sacked as fans called for his head.

But creditably Paraguay's football bosses held firm and Ruiz is one of only three out of the 10 coaches who started the South American qualification campaign back in 2003 still in his job.

Sticking to his guns and persevering with his policy of blooding younger players Ruiz won his next three games on the trot against Bolivia, Argentina and Venezuela to secure the last place for the finals.

The youngsters, such as Edgar Barreto and Julio Manzur, were mainly drawn from the Paraguay team that surprisingly won runners-up medals at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The 1-0 victory over Argentina was a historic achievement, the first time Paraguay had beaten their neighbour in a World Cup tournament and gave them the platform to go on and secure a place in Germany.

"We had difficulties changing generations," Ruiz admitted.

"But now we have a strong nucleus of players who have done very well to get us there. The young players came in and did very well towards the end of the campaign.

"Beating Argentina was very important for us because it gave everyone a lot of confidence. The players rose to the occasion and showed what they can do.

"I am convinced with this side we can do well in Germany. Our objective is to do better than we have before, and that is to progress beyond the last 16 for the first time."