Record scoring striker Marcelo Moreno leads the line for Bolivia at the Copa America
2021-06-12
Amidst the changes and uncertainties to the global football calendar in 2021 as a result of the pandemic, Bolivia will have one advantage as they prepare to battle it out with South America’s best.
Disruption to the usual schedule means Venezuelan coach César Farís will have the benefit of additional preparation and training time plus a side who have had some extra rest ahead of the tournament. Most of the players in the Bolivia squad play in the local league which has been suspended as a result of covid-19.
The national team will hope this time to prepare and work together will give the side an advantage. Marcelo Moreno is one of few who play abroad but was allowed to meet up with Farís in May. Despite having limited minutes at Cruzeiro, Moreno continues to be a star man for Bolivia and is the top scorer in the history of the nationl side.
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Moreno is also the current top scorer in 2022 World Cup qualifiers with six goals, ahead of big stars such as Chile’s Arturo Vidal, Brazil’s Neymar and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.
Bolivia also have experienced figures such as forward Juan Carlos Arce, formally of Corinthians and still an important player for Bolivar, and Diego Jusino who plays in the Greek top flight. The talented, technical midfield pair of Henry Vaca and Ramiro Vaca have also made the squad to provide some fresh legs, invention and quality.
Finalists at the 1997 Copa America on home soil, Bolivia were eventually edged out by a star-studded Brazil side. Since this impressive showing they have only once progressed from their group in Chile in 2015 where they were eliminated in the next round by Peru. In 2019 they lost all three of their group games.
After a slow start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign has started to pick up momentum with a win at home against Venezuela and a commendable away draw against Chile. This means they move up into fourth position and makes them at present an automatic qualifier for the next World Cup.
Bolivia will join Group A alongside Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. They kickoff their campaign against Paraguay on 14 June at Estádio Olímpico in Goiânia.