Argentina's hopes of reaching the World Cup next year took a further knock tonight after losing to Paraguay, whose victory sealed their own passage to South Africa. For Argentina's coach, Diego Maradona, it was another disappointing night as his side dropped into the play-off positions, with his own position beginning to look increasingly untenable.

Nelson Haedo Valdez's first half goal was enough for Paraguay against dispirited opposition. Argentina showed little fight, only displaying a bit of fire in the belly when Juan Sebastian Veron was stupidly sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.

Maradona has now suffered four defeats in five qualifying games. Ecuador moved above his side after beating Bolivia tonight and Uruguay and Colombia are both hot on their heels. A 3-1 defeat at home to Brazil on the weekend was disastrous - but instead of provoking a response from a red-faced team, their performance against Paraguay remained just as insipid. Desperately needing a win, Maradona appears unable to cajole anything out his team at all, the most damning indictment of any manager.

Brazil had highlighted Argentina's many flaws, in defence and attack alike, but despite making changes to their side, most notably dropping Carlos Tevez for Sergio Agüero, Paraguay thoroughly deserved the three points. They tore into Argentina from the start and could have been two up had the woodwork not denied both Haedo and Jonathan Santana.

It was always likely that Paraguay would take the lead and it was a wonder they did not score more than once. Midway through the first half, Salvador Cabanas played in Haedo on the left of the area and the Borussia Dortmund striker's fierce shot into the far corner was unstoppable. Even then, Argentina could barely muster an attack worthy of the name.

In response, Maradona threw on the veteran striker, Martin Palermo, and he might have helped Argentina rescue a point in the dying moments if his fellow substitute Rolando Schiavi had been able to reach his header. That would have been unthinkable given the flow of the match, but then again, so is Argentina not qualifying for a World Cup.