Diego Gomez Dictates in Central Midfield as Paraguay Secure Victory
Diego Gomez delivered one of his most complete performances in a Paraguay shirt as the Albion midfielder helped his country beat Bolivia 2-0 in Washington DC. Playing through the middle rather than wide, he ran the game in a Diego Gomez central midfield role that looked a world away from his usual Amex Stadium brief.
Miguel Almiron scored both goals for Gustavo Alfaro’s side, but it was Gomez who set the tone from deep, dictating tempo and picking passes that Bolivia struggled to live with. For a player used almost exclusively as a wide midfielder under Fabian Hurzeler this season, the display raised an obvious talking point among watching Brighton supporters.
The win in the United States capped a productive week for Paraguay as they build towards next year’s World Cup finals. Gomez looked entirely comfortable running the game from the base of midfield, showing the range of passing that first caught Brighton’s eye.
Chipped Pass Unlocks Bolivia in Washington Central Masterclass
The opening goal told its own story. Gomez spotted space in behind Bolivia’s backline and chipped a delicate pass into the path of Robert Morales, who squared the ball for Almiron to finish. It was the kind of pass that needs vision and composure in equal measure, and Gomez supplied both from a central starting position rather than the flank.
According to the report on Paraguay’s victory, Gomez was involved throughout, dropping deep to collect possession from his back four and driving the team forward with intent. Almiron added a second goal later on, but the platform for both strikes traced back to Gomez’s control of central areas.
It was a reminder of the passing range Brighton fans have seen in flashes since he joined the club, the same quality that persuaded the Albion to reward him with a long-term commitment at the Amex. Freed from a touchline role in Washington, he looked every bit the conductor.
Central Command Versus Wide Role: Analyzing Hurzeler’s Tactical Setup
At Brighton, Hurzeler has largely used Gomez as a wide midfielder, tasked with stretching play and combining with the full back rather than dictating from the centre. It has worked well for the Albion this season, but Washington offered a glimpse of an alternative use of his talents in a Diego Gomez central midfield role.
His passing range, his willingness to receive under pressure and his eye for a chipped ball into space are qualities that translate naturally to a deeper, more central berth. This is not a case of Hurzeler misusing him. The current setup has produced good results all season, and Gomez has shown similar composure before, including during his previous major tournament outing, with Brighton’s willingness to hand him that long-term deal reflecting genuine faith in his all-round game.
Whether Hurzeler experiments with a more central brief for Gomez at club level is a decision for another day, but Washington gave him a compelling audition for it.
World Cup Intensity Concerns and Gomez’s Evolving Role at Brighton
Paraguay’s win confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup as one of six automatic co-hosts, sparing them the usual qualifying grind. Alfaro used his post-match remarks to warn against complacency rather than celebrate the achievement.
“I can’t just relax and say, ‘We’re already qualified’.”
Alfaro’s bigger concern was the number of Paraguayan players still playing their football at home rather than testing themselves in Europe.
“Why, after such a great World Cup, did only one player go to Europe? Something’s missing. There’s a reason the world isn’t choosing us.”
He was clear that qualification alone would not be enough. “That’s why I say there’s still work to be done. We have to do something,” he said.
For Brighton fans, Gomez’s central midfield display sits within that wider picture. He is one of the Paraguayans who did make the move to Europe, and his reception following international duty earlier this year showed how much that move means to supporters at the Amex. His performance against Bolivia suggests there is more than one way for the Albion to use him between now and next summer’s tournament.
