Marcelo Martins, top scorer of the World Cup qualifiers

 The national team striker finished the competition with ten goals, ahead of players such as Neymar, Leo Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Luis Suárez, among others.

The 18th date of the qualifiers for the World Cup Qatar 2022 was completed and Marcelo Martins remained at the top of the scoring charts with ten goals. We cannot yet say that he finished as the top scorer of the competition, because the match between Brazil and Argentina, which was suspended last year, has yet to be played.

And the fact is that both the Verdeamarilla and the Albiceleste have players who aim to dethrone the captain of La Verde, the case of the Brazilian Neymar, who has eight goals, in addition to the Argentines Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez, who have scored seven goals. Uruguay's Luis Suárez has eight goals, but his national team has no more matches pending.

Martins was unable to score against Brazil on Tuesday, but he remains the top scorer in the qualifiers and the all-time top scorer for La Verde with 30 goals between friendly and official matches.

The first goal of the 'Matador' in these qualifiers was against Argentina, in La Paz, on October 13, 2020; then he scored another against Ecuador, also at the Government headquarters, on November 12, 2020.

His third goal was scored against Paraguay, in Asuncion, on November 17, 2020; then he scored a goal against Chile, on March 26, 2021, in Rancagua.

He scored two goals against Venezuela in La Paz, on June 3, 2021; then he scored again against the Chilean national team, in Santiago, on June 8, 2021; while his eighth goal was against Uruguay, in Montevideo, on September 5, 2021; and it was the Charrúa team that suffered his ninth goal, in La Paz, on November 16, 2021.

Marcelo Martins' tenth goal in these qualifiers came against Chile, in La Paz, on February 1 this year, which was also his last goal in the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Qualifiers: Bolivia 0 - 4 Brasil

 An unpresentable version of Bolivia was seen yesterday in La Paz. There is no future for the 2026 qualifiers.

The ordeal is over, the end of one of Bolivia's worst qualifying rounds. An unpresentable national team lost 4-0 last night against Brazil at the Hernando Siles stadium, something that was a foregone conclusion due to the low level of Bolivian soccer, which once again places it among the last teams in South America.

The limitations of the Bolivian national team were even more evident against an opponent of hierarchy, which embarrassed them more than once in the first part of the match.

It was enough for the Canarinha to have possession of the ball and play it with precision, hiding the ball from La Verde, who did not know what to do on the field.

What a nostalgia for those Bolivian teams that beat Brazil three times in the Siles stadium, but with attitude, desire to win, something that the team coached by César Farías lacked until last night.

The Venezuelan failed again in the formation of the team, stubborn as he is he trained with a group since Friday and put other men last night. A clear example was the absence of Ramiro Vaca from the start.

In spite of all the bad things, the best of the Bolivian team was the insistence of Henry Vaca, tireless in his task and the most incisive on the field.

The Canarinha goals

 Brazil measured the tempo and scored when Bolivia least expected it. A warning came after 12 minutes with a shot by Antony that left Sagredo and Fernandez standing still.

Bolivia's best was a play by Henry Vaca, who was left alone, but Alisson responded without problems.

The first goal of the night was a combination of Guimaraes and Fabinho that left Lucas Paqueta alone and he easily beat Cordano (23').

Before the break (44'), Richarlison broke free and Antony scored the second against an unimpressive Bolivian team.

Second half

Bolivia's best were the first 15 minutes of the second half. The presence of Ramiro Vaca changed the tone of La Verde. After two minutes, a header by Martins crashed against the left post. After ten minutes came the best play of the night with a shot by Ramiro Vaca that was saved by the Brazilian goalkeeper and from the rebound Roberto Fernandez was unable to finish.

Brazil showed its forcefulness again and took advantage of a bad start by the Bolivian players to score the third of the night through Bruno Guimaraes (20') and the match was already looking like a rout for the Canarinha.

Gabriel spared Bolivia's life in the final part of the match with a couple of plays that did not end in a goal only by luck in Cordano's goal.

The one who did not forgive was Richarlison in the time limit to seal the Brazilian victory, the biggest in the history of the qualifiers in Paceño territory.

Farias said that he is leaving a team for three cycles, something that is not true. With this group of players we are expecting the same or worse in the next qualifiers. The problem is the weak structure of Bolivian soccer that will continue in the same way, as long as the federation leadership does not present a serious project. 

Tite attacks La Paz and Etcheverry calls him "coward".

Brazil's coach said it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude.

Brazil's coach, Tite, warned that against eliminated Bolivia his team will not be "as vertical" as it usually is, due to the altitude of La Paz, and was encouraged to achieve a victory to break the record for most points in the South American qualifying round. He said that it is "inhuman" to play at high altitude. In response to this version, former La Verde national team player Marco Antonio Etcheverry was quick to retort: "Let the famous Tite keep quiet, he is a coward". 

"We are not going to have a team as vertical as we have had in recent games because (the altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level) does not allow it, it is inhuman," said the coach at a press conference on Monday in Teresopolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Hours later, Etcheverry sent a message to the players of the national team and another to the Brazilian DT. "I hope they score four (goals) for the excuses they are making. I do not want to say other words because they will think it is discriminatory, but it seems to me that (Tite) is a coward, to be talking about the altitude when they are already qualified to the World Cup. (...) It seems very cowardly to me. It bothered me a lot, I didn't hear it before. Tité is a coward", protested the ex-footballer to Futbolmania. 

Tite

"There are other strategies, to keep possession of the ball. We hope the pitch is in good condition. We won't be able to put the same rhythm, the same speed we usually use in home games or in normal conditions", he added.

Qualified since November for the Qatar-2022 World Cup and undefeated leader with 42 points from 16 games, the 'Seleção' will break the record for most points in the South American qualifiers if they beat the Bolivians on the last day of the qualifiers, without the suspended Neymar and Vinicius Jr.

The record in the current competition format (10 teams, all against all, established for the road to France-1998) is held by Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina, who scored 43 points on the road to Korea and Japan-2002.

Brazil has another chance to break or extend that record, because it has a game against Argentina pending. That match should have been played in September in Sao Paulo, but was suspended due to alleged violations of the anti-virus protocol by the Albicelestes.

Furthermore, if the five-time champions beat Bolivia, second last with 15 points, they would displace Belgium from first place in the FIFA ranking.   

"It has meaning (breaking that record and reaching the top spot). Personally (what's important) is to see the team play very well again, to get through adversity strategically, to have their soccer represented with technical quality and possession," he said.

Without Neymar and Vinicius Jr, Tite would make seven changes compared to the starting XI that thrashed Chile 4-0 on Thursday at the Maracana. Substitute goalkeeper Weverton will also be out through injury.

The 'Canarinha', which will travel to Bolivia on Monday afternoon, will start with Alisson in goal, Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Éder Militão and Alex Telles at the back, Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá in the middle, and Antony, Philippe Coutinho and Richarlison up front. 

Bolivia seeks fourth victory over Brazil in the qualifiers

 La Verde has already beaten the Verdeamarilla on three occasions in the city of La Paz. In addition, there have been two draws and two Brazilian victories in Bolivian territory.

Bolivia has the numbers against it in the history of meetings with Brazil. Both teams have faced each other 16 times in the World Cup qualifiers, La Verde has three wins, La Verdeamarilla has nine victories and there have been four draws.

Considering only the matches played in Bolivia, they have met seven times. The home team has won on three occasions, the visitors on two and they have drawn two matches.

The last time they played in La Paz, the match ended in a draw with a blank score. It was on October 5, 2017 for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The three Bolivian victories took place at the Hernando Siles stadium. The first time was on July 25, 1993, in the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. On that occasion, La Verde won 2-0.

Then they won again on November 7, 2001, in the qualifiers for the World Cup Korea-Japan 2002, by 3-1; and the last time was on October 11, 2009, in the qualifiers for the World Cup South Africa 2010, by 2-1.

This Tuesday, the team coached by César Farías will seek to give Bolivia its fourth victory against the powerful Brazil, within the framework of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

As an additional fact, Bolivia and Brazil have faced each other only once in a World Cup, in Uruguay 1930, when Brazil won 4-0.

Brazil has only beaten Bolivia once in La Paz in the qualifiers

  One of Brazil's best teams in the qualifiers was the one that won the Canarinha's only victory over Bolivia in La Paz. On the road to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the Brazilians beat the national team 2-1, and after that victory all their visits to the Hernando Siles ended in defeats or draws.

Brazil in 1981 was a constellation of stars under the command of Telé Santana. That group of players included Waldir Pérez, Oscar, Junior, Toninho Cerezo, Zico, Socrates, Reynaldo and Eder. The only one who did not make it in that group was Falcao, who the following year was in the group that failed to win the World Cup organized by the Spaniards.

On the rainy afternoon of February 22, 1981, both teams met in Miraflores. La Verde lined up with Carlos Conrado Jiménez in goal; Juan Carlos Trigo, Edgar Vaca, Edwin Espinoza and Windsor del Llano in defense; Eduardo Angulo, Erwin Romero, Carlos Aragonés and Carlos Borja in midfield; Gastón Taborga and Miguel Aguilar in attack.

"At 3 minutes, Aguilar smashed the ball into the corner of the auriverde goal, but four minutes later Sócrates, on a stroll, opened the scoring. At 27 minutes Aragonés brought Bolivia back to life with a superb header after a corner cross. In the second half Reynaldo, the Brazilian, in the 15th minute put the final numbers. Bolivia insisted tirelessly in a full and hopeful stadium, but it was not to be. 2 to 1 for the three-time champions. That was the end of the Bolivian illusion", recalls Carlos Mesa in the Historia del Fútbol Boliviano portal.

The Canarinha has another victory in the country, it was in 1985 (2-0) when they played against La Verde in Santa Cruz.

 DT FARÍAS HIDES THE ELEVEN OF LA VERDE

César Farías put maximum security at the Hernando Siles stadium to prevent people from seeing the team he has lined up for tomorrow's match against Brazil (19:30), in his farewell as coach of La Verde.

The little that could be seen is that the forward duo is confirmed with Henry vaca and Marcelo Martins. Where there is no light is in the goal with Guillermo Viscarra and Rubén Cordano who were very active, the other doubt is the right wing where Gabriel Villamil or Fran Supayabe could appear. On the other flank Roberto Fernández is immovable. The defense would be Jairo Quinteros, José María Carrasco and José Sagredo. In the middle, Moisés Villarroel, Gabriel Villamil and Ramiro Vaca.

Bolivia is the only team to beat Brazil three times

Bolivia has almost always been eliminated from the World Cup and Brazil, on the contrary, is a permanent and ever-present participant in the World Cup, but La Verde is the only team that has beaten it on three occasions in qualifying matches. La Canarinha has 12 defeats and three of them were at the Hernando Siles stadium.

In the new visit to the Government headquarters on Tuesday, Brazil will try not to lose for the fourth time against Bolivia, which would be enough to finish the qualifiers undefeated, something that has not happened with any team in the round-robin system.

Of the three defeats Brazil has had in La Paz, the most painful was on July 25, 1993. On that day, Xabier Azkargorta's team broke their 40-year unbeaten streak without losing a qualifier.

The main thrills came in the second half: Erwin Sanchez had a golden chance to open the scoring with a penalty kick, but goalkeeper Taffarel blocked the shot with his legs. His luck changed at the end of the match.

With the clock ticking down, Marco Antonio Etcheverry received a long pass and piled up several players on the left. The Devil's Devil delayed his decision and ran out of angle, so he decided to send a low cross in search of a teammate. His shot went straight to Taffarel, who made a real accident of it by bouncing the ball into his own net with his foot in the 88th minute.

The explosion of the Hernando Siles had not yet silenced its echoes when Brazil went all out in search of the equalizer. Álvaro Peña received a brilliant pass from Etcheverry to face and beat Taffarel again with a dry right-footed shot in the 89th minute to the delight of the fans.

Bolivia's starting line-up that afternoon was as follows: Carlos Leonel Trucco, Miguel Rimba, Gustavo Quinteros, Marco Sandy, Carlos Borja, Luis Cristaldo, Milton Melgar, Julio Baldivieso, Erwin Sanchez (Ramiro Castillo), Marco Etcheverry and William Ramallo (Alvaro Pena).

Brazil played with Taffarel, Cafú, Valber, Marcio Santos, Leonardo, Mauro Silva, Luis Enrique (Jorginho) Zinho, Raí (Palinha) Bebeto and Muller.

The other two victories 

Eight years later, Bolivia achieved its second victory over the Brazilians by defeating them 3-1 in a match valid for the 2002 Korea-Japan qualifiers. Edilson gave the visitors the lead, then Líder Paz equalized and Julio César Baldivieso scored the remaining two goals, the last one a long-distance free kick that beat goalkeeper Marcos in the north goal of the Siles.

The last time we beat the Canarinha was in the qualifiers for South Africa 2010. Under Erwin Sanchez, La Verde won 2-1 in a match that took place on October 10, 2009. Edgar Olivares and Marcelo Martins scored for the national team and Nilmar for the visitors. 

Times are different, the teams that beat Brazil in La Paz had other players who made a difference on the field; today the outlook is very different, but La Verde has in its favor the fear that its rival has always expressed of playing in Miraflores.

The pentacampeón has played 126 knockout matches in 13 editions. Others who have beaten them are Argentina (2), Paraguay (2), Chile (2), Ecuador (2) and Uruguay (1); but Bolivia defeated them on three occasions. On Tuesday will the fourth contrast be able to arrive? 

Marcelo Martins conditions his continuity with La Verde

  Marcelo Martins has not yet decided whether Tuesday will be his last game with the national team. The attacker said yesterday that his permanence in La Verde is conditioned to a serious commitment on the part of the leadership to give the various selections working conditions.

"I am analyzing everything the FBF intends for the future. There is a new president who cares a lot about what happens in Bolivian soccer and that is positive because he is going to provide conditions to all the clubs and the national team with the construction of the Casa de la Verde," said Martins.

He highlighted the plans of the head of the federation, Fernando Costa, who intends to give other conditions to the players in the administration that began two months ago.

"If there is commitment with the fans and the players, I will think about whether I want to stay, because the love for this shirt is very big and we will analyze it well. I am the current top scorer in the qualifying rounds," he added.

Team

César Farías began to outline yesterday the line-up to receive Brazil on Tuesday. The tactical work he carried out at the Hernando Siles stadium allowed to see some lights of the team he has in mind. The defense will keep the line of three at the back with Jairo Quinteros, José María Carrasco and José Sagredo. Yesterday he worked on the right flank with José Herrera and Fran Supayabe, on the left will be Roberto Fernández.

In the middle were Moisés Villarroel, Gabriel Villamil and Ramiro Vaca; further forward were Henry Vaca and Marcelo Martins.

The team will continue with its work at the Miraflores stadium.

 BREAKING THE CANARINHA'S UNBEATEN STREAK

As happened 29 years ago, the national team wants to become the team that takes away Brazil's unbeaten record in the World Cup qualifiers and, with that victory, close this competition with its head held high in La Paz.

In 16 matches, Brazil has won 13 games and has drawn three times. They still have to play against Bolivia and Argentina.

In the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Bolivia defeated Brazil 2-0 on the second matchday, on July 25, 1993, silencing the Brazilian party, which was accompanied by a 40-year unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying matches.

Qualifiers: Colombia 3 - 0 Bolivia

 Bolivia made the effort to keep the score at zero with will over soccer, soon their limitations allowed Colombia to win 3-0 in Barranquilla, in the penultimate date of the qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Colombia broke a seven-game winless streak, this victory hid their footballing problems under the table. Although they moved the ball where they wanted and for as long as they wanted.

The first Colombian goal was scored in the 39th minute by Luis Díaz, who broke free from Marc Enoumba's marker in a personal move and sent the ball into the left side of goalkeeper Rubén Cordano with a right-footed shot.

A minute after that action, the yellow team was inches away from extending the score, amidst the green team's disorientation. Daniel Muñoz headed a cross that was handled by Cordano and the crossbar helped prevent the goal.

The greater ball possession, with the minimal advantage, was an insecure ticket on Thursday night. The introduction of Miguel Borja changed the rhythm of the attack, and that change helped to make it 2-0 at 72', with Borja's header under the goal after a short cross.

Towards the end, the Bolivian defense again let loose on an indirect free kick. Andres Uribe (90') made a "palomita" dive to head in a rebound that hit the crossbar. Colombia's pressure was extended until the end.

With this defeat, Bolivia remains with 15 points in the ninth position. The closing of this campaign will be on Tuesday, March 29 (19:30) against Brazil at the "Hernando Siles" stadium; while Colombia will visit Venezuela in its last chance to go to the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Bolivia, almost out of the game, to face a needy Colombia in Barranquilla

 The match will be played this Thursday (19:30 Bolivian time) at the Metropolitano stadium. The Cafeteros are obliged to win to keep their chances of qualifying for the World Cup Qatar 2022. Facundo Tello, from Argentina, will be the referee.

Bolivia, almost hopeless, will visit Colombia this Thursday (19:30 Bolivian time), which is obliged to win to maintain its chances of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.  

On the bench of La Verde (15), Venezuelan coach César Farías is betting on the "fresh energy" of the young players, given the "minimal possibility" that his team has of going to the World Cup and the absence of Marcelo Moreno Martins, the scorer of the qualifying round, due to suspension.  

Farias is looking for reasons to motivate a Bolivia that is practically out of the World Cup fight.

"We are two results away from Bolivia's best qualifying campaign in this format," said the coach, who included several U-23 players in his squad, including Ramiro Vaca (Beerschot/Belgium), who scored a goal in the current qualifying campaign.

"We can play well, badly, regularly, draw, win or lose, but we are not going to give ourselves away, as many might think: we are going with our best," Farias told the newspaper El Tiempo. 

The Venezuelan has dispensed with several regulars such as goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, midfielders Juan Carlos Arce and Fernando Saucedo.

Striker Moreno Martins will not be available for the match in Barranquilla, but was called up to close the qualifying round at home against Brazil.  

 Colombia must win

On the Colombian side, a goal drought has left the dream of the World Cup in the hands of others. They are obliged to win at home against an almost hopeless Bolivia, although the tricolor will be watching Uruguay, Peru and Chile, who are ahead of them in the race to Qatar 2022. 

On the verge of sinking, Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda takes on the last two dates of the South American pre-World Cup without major changes in front of a core of players who have gone seven games without a win (4 draws - 3 defeats) and without scoring - with the notable absence of Radamel Falcao due to physical problems.

From the Estadio Metropolitano de Barranquilla, the Cafeteros (17 points) will be hoping for a draw in Montevideo, where they will simultaneously face Uruguay (22) and Peru (21). They are also hoping that leaders and already qualified Brazil (39) will trip up Chile (19).  

 - Crisis and "faith

With Ecuador (25 points) about to join Argentina and Brazil in the trip to Qatar, the door is too narrow for the Uruguayans, Peruvians, Chileans and Colombians. 

The Cafeteros are trailing in the fourth-team race for the last direct ticket to the World Cup and another place in the playoff against a team from another continent. 

The fans are hoping that their new star Luis Diaz (Liverpool/England) will rescue them from the crisis unleashed by the unusual goal drought and the recent defeats against Peru and Argentina.

But dropping points against Bolivia would mean Rueda's second elimination in a pre-World Cup with his country's national team, after missing out on a ticket to Germany 2006. 

"I still don't think about not being in the World Cup, I have faith," Boca Juniors left back Frank Fabra, one of the few variants in the list presented by the former Chilean coach, told the media.

Strikers Luis Muriel and Alfredo Morelos, who performed well in the round of 16 of the Europa League with Atalanta and Rangers respectively, look like Rueda's last bets to avoid his second fall on his way to a World Cup.

Probable lineups:   

Colombia: David Ospina - Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Cuesta, Davinson Sanchez, Johan Mojica - James Rodríguez, Wilmar Barrios, Mateus Uribe, Luis Díaz - Luis Muriel, Alfredo Morelos. Coach: Reinaldo Rueda

Bolivia: Ruben Cordano - Jose Maria Carrasco, Sebastian Alvarez, Jose Sagredo - Marc Enoumba, Roberto Fernandez, Moises Villaroel, Richard Spenhay - Ramiro Vaca, Cesar Menacho - Bruno Miranda. Coach: César Farías. 

Argentine Facundo Tello will be the referee.

In Colombia they warn: We must go out and eat Bolivia

 During a press conference, the Colombian Luis Fernando Sinisterra warned that tomorrow, starting at 19:30, the Colombian national team must "go out and eat Bolivia".

The Colombian player, who plays in Europe, analyzed the match that the Colombian team will play against Bolivia.   "From the first minute we must go out to stifle the rival, try to provoke the rival in the first minute. From the first minute we must go out to eat Bolivia", anticipated the winger of Feyenoord of the Eredivisie of the Netherlands.

Of La Verde he said: "I think they will be a withdrawal and that is where we must be calm to move the ball from side to side and to filter the balls where there is space. We must take advantage of the first few minutes that will cost them here in Barranquilla," he said. Meanwhile, with the incorporation of players Dávinson Sánchez, Mateus Uribe and William Tesillo, the Colombian national soccer team that will play against Bolivia this Thursday (19:30) in Barranquilla, in the penultimate date of the qualifiers for Qatar 2022, was completed yesterday.

Luis Fernando Muriel also joined the practices, with him there are 28 players training under the orders of coach Reinaldo Rueda. According to the Colombian media report, the team worked yesterday afternoon, but today will be the most important work of the team, which will define the base team that will play against the Bolivians.

"The talent is there and we have to go out to stifle our rival, the first option we have we must score, we have to go out and eat Bolivia", said Luis Sinisterra, coffee player.

Bolivia will have no debutants in its lineup against Colombia

 In yesterday's training session, he kept the three-man back line, but included Carrasco alongside Haquín and Sagredo. Enoumba moved to play on the right.

Bolivia will not have debutants in the starting line-up to face Colombia tomorrow at the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla (19:30), for the penultimate date of the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar.

Coach César Farías affirmed yesterday that "there are no debutants in the starting line-up", which will face the Colombians.

"Luis Haquín has 25 international matches, Moisés Villarroel has 18, these guys have experience and whoever comes in, must run, score and have personality to keep the ball", said the DT after training at the Hernando Siles stadium. Farias' affirmation confirmed the players he has been working with in the last few days for the match against the Colombian team.

Yesterday, La Verde held another training session at the Hernando Siles stadium with tactical content. Farías ordered work to put pressure on the opponent, "not to let them think", as he mentioned at some point during the session.

However, there were a couple of moments in the session in which the tactician clearly set out the system and the men he will use in Barranquilla. The line of three at the back is defined, but yesterday in one of the sessions he put Fran Supayabe, who plays for Guabirá, on the right wing, then that place was taken by Marc Enoumba, who will finally run on that side, since according to Farias' words there will be no debutants in the team.

Roberto Fernández is confirmed for the left wing, and the three at the back will be José María Carrasco, Luis Haquín and José Sagredo. In the midfield, Moisés Villarroel is a fixed piece together with Franz González.  Jeyson Chura, César Menacho and Henry Vaca worked in front of them. As seen in the sessions, goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra will be in goal.

Menacho has not made his official debut in La Verde, so his place would be taken by Jaume Cuellar, from Lugo of Spain; also if Chura does not go, the one who has a guaranteed place is Ramiro Vaca, who plays in Belgian soccer. Another issue that has been defined is the captaincy. Without Martins, Arce and Bejarano, coach Farías confirmed that Villarroel will wear the headband.

In Barranquilla

The national delegation moved last night to the venue of this Thursday's match.

Bolivia plans to work this afternoon at the Metropolitano stadium at the same time as the match against the Colombians.

Jaume Cuellar and Ramiro Vaca will join today's session, having settled in earlier at the training camp.

While La Verde plays against Colombia, Marcelo Martins is expected to arrive from Asuncion, Paraguay, for next Tuesday's game against Brazil. The striker did not play last weekend for Cerro Porteño due to injury.

"He has a traumatism in his left foot, he received a blow in Wednesday's tactical training, it was in the heel and it affected his Achilles tendon", explained Cerro's DT, Francisco Arce, about the injury of the Bolivian attacker.

Martins has played four games in Cerro Porteño's jersey and has yet to score his first goal. 

La Verde has zero points and zero goals in Colombia

 The worst drubbing suffered by the national team against the Colombians was 5-0 (2013), when coach Xabier Azkargorta was in charge of the team. 

The Bolivian national team has everything against it for another visit to Colombia. Of the nine opponents La Verde has played against in CONMEBOL, it has taken points from all of them abroad, but the exception is Colombia, with which it has only known defeats in the six matches it has played in the World Cup qualifiers.

The statistics are totally unfavorable for Bolivia, since in all the matches they played in Bogota and Barranquilla they could not score a single goal. This Thursday 24, from 19:00, César Farías's team will try to break this bad streak against the Colombian team in the penultimate match to be played at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez stadium.

Since August 20, 1997, when they met for the first time in a World Cup qualifier for France 1998, the Colombians have been in control of their territory and have not let any points slip away from La Verde. That first encounter included several players who had qualified for the World Cup four years earlier, but who were in the final part of their national team careers.

Lineup

La Verde's lineup included Carlos Trucco, Juan Manuel Peña, Marco Antonio Sandy, Oscar Sánchez, Fernando Ochoaizpur, Sergio Castillo, Luis Héctor Cristaldo, Rubén Tufiño, Jaime Moreno, Marco Antonio Etcheverry and Erwin Sánchez. The team coached by Spaniard Antonio López Habas lost 3-0 and ended the game with ten men due to the expulsion of Tufiño. The goals for the Colombians were scored by Anthony de Ávila, Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla.

The new century

In 2001, Bolivians and Colombians met again in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan. Colombia was preparing its team to host that year's Copa América and beat La Verde, coached by Carlos Aragonés, 2-0.

For the 2006 World Cup in Germany, it was the closest result of all Bolivia's visits to that country, 1-0. Colombia was coached by Reinaldo Rueda, who coincidentally coached that team in this qualifier.  Everyone's team was coached by Ramiro Blacut.

Bolivia's last three visits also ended in defeat: in 2009 the result was 2-0 with Erwin Sánchez as coach; while nine years ago there was the most resounding defeat, 5-0, to the group commanded by Xabier Azkargorta.

In 2017 , Mauricio Soria was the DT of the national team and in the visit to Barranquilla they reaped another defeat by the minimum difference.

 As locals, the Colombians have a perfect score, since they won the 18 points in dispute, scored 14 goals and did not concede any goal against the different Bolivian teams.

For Thursday, the Colombians are favorites to take the three points in dispute that will allow them to hope for a miracle to go to the World Cup. 

Sagredo will be the one who played the most with La Verde in the qualifying round.

 The player played in the last 16 rounds and is one of the key players to be present against Colombia and Brazil, at the end of the qualifiers.

José Sagredo will finish the qualifying campaign for Qatar as the player who played the most games for the Bolivian national team in the tournament that is about to conclude. If the defender is included in the starting lineup against Colombia, he will reach 17 games, an unreachable figure for the rest of his teammates.

The absence of goalkeeper Carlos Lampe and the forced absence of striker Marcelo Martins against the Cafeteros make Sagredo the "infallible" in the call-ups of coach César Farías due to his presence in the starting team in the 16 dates that have already been played up to last February.

According to records, Sagredo started 12 matches and was substituted four times. Until the last match played against Chile, Sagredo accumulated 1,162 minutes in total.

The player from Santa Cruz started the qualifiers as a left back (2020), when he played for The Strongest, but DT Farias changed the system and put him as a stopper in the line of three that became usual in La Verde. Sagredo's regular performance in that position meant that, first at El Tigre and currently at Bolívar, he has maintained that position.

Lampe and Martins

The other players who had the most appearances in this competition were Carlos Lampe with 16 games played and 1,440 minutes, as he was never substituted; but the penalty for the goalkeeper is that he was not taken into account for this last double date of the qualifying round and will remain with that record.

The third place went to Marcelo Martins with 15 appearances and 1,316 minutes accumulated. The striker will not play against Colombia due to the accumulation of yellow cards, but he will play against Brazil, which will bring his total to 16 games.

The player who played the least minutes in these qualifiers was John García with only three minutes played in Bolivia's 3-0 defeat against Ecuador on the eleventh matchday. Garcia is currently called up to the national team and can improve his record.

Practice

La Verde trained yesterday afternoon at the Villa el Sol complex in the town of Ananta, behind closed doors. Henry Vaca aims to be the only attacker that will have on Thursday against Colombia, in Barranquilla (19:30). The rest of the team would go with Guillermo Viscarra, in goal, the line of three would be formed by José María Carrasco, Luis Haquín and José Sagredo.  Marc Enoumba and Roberto Fernández would play on the wings, Moisés Villarroel and Richard Spenhay in the middle, Ronaldo Sánchez and César Menacho further forward, while Vaca will be the only striker.

The national delegation is scheduled to travel to the venue tomorrow. On Wednesday, the last training session will be held there and the return of La Verde is scheduled for Friday. 

Colombia vs. Bolivia or the most ineffective vs. the most scored

 El combinado nacional es el más goleado de la actual Eliminatoria con 35 goles en contra. El equipo de Farías ya está eliminado, el de Rueda se aferra aún a las matemáticas.

The team that "doesn't even score a goal against the rainbow" and the worst-scoring team in the current qualifiers will meet on Thursday (19:30) in Barraquilla. Colombia has gone seven consecutive matches without scoring a goal in the qualifiers and Bolivia is, at the moment, the highest-scoring team in the competition, with 35 goals conceded.

The harsh phrase in quotation marks at the beginning of the article comes from Carlos Alberto Valderrama, the legendary former player of the Colombian national team, who did not mince his words in criticizing his team's lack of goals, which has them on the verge of elimination from the World Cup.

Despite their poor performance, the Colombians are still clinging to a miracle to be present at the World Cup at the end of the year, but to do so they must score in their last two matches against Bolivia and Venezuela.

The 646 minutes without scoring began in the 3-1 win over Chile on September 9, 2021. Luis Díaz scored the goal 29 minutes into the second half and it was the last time the Cafetaleros embraced to celebrate.

After the match against the trans-Andeans, Colombia failed to score in seven consecutive games: against Uruguay, Brazil (twice), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Argentina.

The harsh reality

In the last few hours, the Colombian press released another piece of information regarding the scoring droughts of national teams in the world and Colombia is the third in the "shameful" list together with Paraguay, since they have not scored since last year. They are only surpassed by Anguilla of Concacaf (12 matches without scoring-2004) and Seychelles of the African confederation, also with seven strikes in 2008.

"All the scorers have come and we are not able to score a goal, we haven't scored a goal in seven games. You have to recognize when you play badly, which is what happens in the national team, but they get pissed off when you give an opinion. We don't even score a goal against the rainbow," Valderrama stressed.

With only 17 points obtained in 16 games played, Colombia will have the obligation to win on Thursday against Bolivia and on the 29th against Venezuela as visitors, hoping that Chile, Peru and Uruguay do not have 24 points or more.

Bolivia, the worst scorer

A couple of weeks ago, the technical director of the Bolivian national team, César Farías, highlighted in his report on his cycle in the Bolivian national team (2019-2022) that "Bolivia has scored 23 goals in 16 dates of the qualifiers, the same amount as Argentina and the highest number of goals in the last seven qualifiers".

What Farías forgot to include in his 80-page document is that in the current competition, La Verde has conceded 35 goals, has the most goals scored among the 10 teams of the continent and if in these two remaining dates to close the road to Qatar it concedes more than three goals, it will be the Bolivian team with the most goals scored since the qualifiers were played in the system all against all (1998). In competitions that had 18 matches, like the current one, Bolivia has three editions in which it conceded more than 35 goals: for the qualifiers for the World Cup in Germany (2006) its goal was beaten 37 times, for South Africa 2010 it conceded 36 goals and the one that endured more goals was Russia 2018 with 38 goals. Will Colombia be able to break its goal drought against Bolivia, which is the highest-scoring team in the current qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar 2022?

Bolivia-Brazil at the Félix Capriles stadium is unfeasible due to operational issues

  Although the president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), Fernando Costa, hinted that the match between Bolivia and Brazil, on March 29, could be played at the Félix Capriles stadium, there are several details that make this possibility unfeasible.

"Possibly the president's idea is what he has always expressed, to take the national team to different cities in the country. It can be done, but in the next qualifying process", assured the director of the marketing department of the FBF, José Claure, to Panamericano Deportivo.

The federation executive explained that changing the venue of the match against Brazil would imply a problem with the issue of subscribers, most of whom are in the city of La Paz.

Another problem is that in order to change the venue of a playoff match, different steps must be followed and a series of requirements must be fulfilled.

"First, the scenarios are presented to Conmebol, they are verified to obtain approval not only for the number of spectators, but for everything that corresponds to this type of tournament, such as lights, access to the sports field. We believe that an evaluation should still be made in the short term, since we are a little more than a month away from this new commitment of the national team", said Claure.

It is unfeasible to change the venue of the match against Brazil due to the operational and logistical aspects that are already underway for that match, since even the advance team of the Verdeamarela is already in La Paz, evaluating the hotels, the distances they will travel from the hotel to the stadium, in which part of the field of play they will warm up, among others.

Bs 6 million unsupported in the FBF

The audit of the financial statements of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) for the years 2020 and 2021 indicates that 6,395,800 bolivianos do not have backups, that is to say, with the documentation to establish their origin nor the discharges of the expenses made.

Delta Consult Limited carried out the audit and in its opinion, which is labeled as "qualified opinion", states that "we have not been able to satisfy ourselves on the reasonableness of the balances identified for 6,395,800 bolivianos, through other audit procedures because they do not have the documentation to support their origin, since they correspond to periods prior to 2015".

Does the FBF want La Paz to stop hosting the qualifying round?

 "We are making consultations to see if we have the endorsement (of Conmebol and FIFA) and to give surprises," responded the president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), Fernando Costa, when asked about the possibility of taking the last match of the South American qualifiers against Brazil (March 29) to another venue other than La Paz.

According to Costa, Cochabamba is the main option. However, it was not taken into account that in order to think about that option it is also necessary to analyze what will happen with the season ticket holders, as well as to see if the Félix Capriles meets the requirements requested by FIFA. 

"It is within the alternatives, we have shuffled that possibility and we want to take our National Team to the nine departmental capitals. We are making the consultations to see if we have the endorsement (of Conmebol and FIFA) and give surprises", explained Costa.

Los Tiempos consulted a former FBF executive about the possibility of providing more venues for the national team, given that it is likely for the next qualifying process for the United States-Mexico-Canada 2026 and not for the current one, as there are few venues that meet the requirements.

What are the requirements? Although the FIFA requirements are framed in terms of artificial light lumens, dimensions of dressing rooms, VOR rooms, security and others that many national scenarios meet, one is vital: to have seats installed on the concrete bleachers.

Currently, only the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz and the Tahuichi Aguilera stadium in Santa Cruz comply with this requirement, and only to a high percentage.

The Patria in Sucre has some seats (not enough) and the Félix Capriles in Cochabamba does not have a single one, as these were removed after refurbishment in 2018. 

"We are sure that in the nine capital cities we will have the support, because the selection belongs to everyone. We are in consultation with Conmebol, we estimate that until the following week we will have an answer," Costa finished. 

Farías will conclude his cycle in the Green with the match against Brazil

 The cycle of the Venezuelan strategist at the head of the national team will end after the last double date of the South American qualifiers heading to Qatar 2022, as confirmed yesterday by the president of the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF), Fernando Costa.

“The professor asked to conclude the qualifying campaign against Qatar, with the next two games that the Bolivian team has to face. We express to you that here (the Executive Committee) the cycle of Professor Farías has concluded. We express to him that we will accept that he continue working until the 2022 qualifying rounds are over”, assured Costa, who yesterday was finally able to talk with the strategist Farías.

Bolivia must visit Colombia on March 24, by date 17, and will end against Brazil, in La Paz, on March 29.

The head of the FBF reiterated that Farías, once the qualifiers against Qatar are over, will not continue to command the Green, and that they have already begun the process to choose the new strategist for the national team.

“We are going to immediately start a selection process for the coaching staff that will not only take charge of the men's senior team, but of all categories, such as the women's,” Costa said.

The president of the FBF stressed again that the federation does not have the financial resources to carry out an immediate termination of the contract. For this reason, it was also accepted that the Venezuelan coach continue to command the Green.

“He was told that we do not have the economic conditions to dismiss the professor. It was a cordial conversation, so we are going to count on the professor's service until the conclusion of the 2022 qualifiers, ”he said.

In this dialogue that he had with Farías, Costa also made known the desire that players with greater projection be taken into consideration in the last two games of La Verde.

“It is intended to give space to younger players, but we have agreed to talk about that later. We are going to have a longer, more detailed talk, for all these aspects, with a view to the last matches of the qualifiers, ”he assured.

Likewise, Farías would have explained that there was a misunderstanding in his press conference after the defeat against Chile, since several media, especially international ones, assured that the Venezuelan coach would have resigned and it was not like that.

The FBF will order technician Farías to present his report

 The Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) will urge, through a note, coach César Farías to present his report in a face-to-face meeting, after yesterday he did not answer the call from the president of the FBF, Fernando Costa.

“The meeting could not be carried out. Professor Farías did not answer the call from the president nor from the executive director Gastón Uribe. It will be extended to quote in writing and that it be in person so that Farías meets as soon as possible, but we think it is disrespectful, ”said Edwin Callapino, vice president of the FBF.

Callapino assured that the meeting must be carried out as soon as possible, because decisions must be made.

"There is annoyance, because after the game the president agreed that they would speak today (yesterday) at five o'clock and that he did not answer the call, that really caused a lot of annoyance in the Executive Committee," said Callapino.

The vice president also said that this issue will be resolved in the best possible way, so that there is no economic damage to the FBF.

Costa yesterday conceded that if the FBF unilaterally rescinds the contract with Farías, it will have to pay him around $450,000.

For this reason, the legal adviser of the FBF, Víctor Hugo Pérez, commented yesterday to the media that the federation will not terminate the contract with Farías, and that if he wants to leave, he will leave.

But it is known that Farías will not terminate his resignation, because if he does, he will have to pay $300,000 to terminate the contract.

With this scenario, it is most likely that Farías will finish these qualifiers under the command of La Verde and still lead Bolivia against Colombia and Brazil, next March.

Meanwhile, the president of the FBF assured that the results obtained during this tie did not reflect the efforts made to fulfill the dream of returning to a World Cup. He said that from now on he will stick to the job and strengthen the lower divisions.

“We must strengthen the lower divisions, schools and others. We are going to work on a very serious project, incorporating academy football and activating more activity for all our teams”, said Costa.

He recognized that Bolivia's performance in this tie was a failure, because the objectives set, such as qualifying for the World Cup, were not achieved.

"When the objectives are not met, it means a failure, in any case, failures should allow us to project a better future, a better job so that Bolivian soccer can participate in a World Cup in the future and have a better ranking of South American soccer", sure.

It could be the best qualifier

If Bolivia manages to add at least one point in the last two dates that remain in this tie, the national team could finish its best qualifying tournament after 1993.

On the way to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Bolivia added 15 units in the 18 dates, and became the best score obtained after 93.

Bolivia still has to face Colombia and Brazil.

Video arbitration training

The president of the FBF, Fernando Costa, informed that it is expected that in the next few days the start day of the training for the referees in the Video Arbitration system (VAR) will be defined.

Costa assured that they are adjusting some FIFA requirements to start with the training of referees in the country. It is expected that the next national professional soccer tournament will already have VAR. 

Goodbye to the dream of the World Cup in Bolivia with the defeat at home against Chile (2-3)

 The game was played at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz. La Roja won with goals from Alexis Sánchez (14' and 84') and Núñez (76'). La Verde scored through Marc Enoumbá (36') and Martins (87').

The national team could not at home this Tuesday against Chile. He lost 2-3, a result that leaves him without any chance of qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when he only has two games left to play (against Colombia as a visitor and at home against Brazil).

The Green remains with 15 units, while the Red adds 19 and fuels its hope of fighting for fourth place or the playoff.

Both selected played all or nothing to stay alive on a rainy day at the seat of government, but it did not prevent a better performance of the visit.

Striker Alexis Sánchez made the difference in the match. He scored two (14 'and 84') of the three goals for his team and managed the play for which Núñez converted (76 ').

The match

Chile was more of a protagonist in the first part because it adapted better to the field that was flooded in several sectors after heavy rain and this affected the game. That is why it was not surprising that he opened the scoring. Bolivia showed little consistency in its performance, with obvious fear of error and that prevented it from performing better.

A foul by Adrián Jusino on Ben Brereton led to a free kick, which Alexis Sánchez executed brilliantly. Carlos Lampe was surprised by the precision of the shot. Chile was thus placed in advantage before the first quarter of an hour of the game.

It was difficult for the national team to leave its zone. Fernando Saucedo, Erwin Saavedra and Juan Carlos Arce had a lot of difficulties to prevail in the middle and that weighed on the attack because Bruno Miranda and Marcelo Martins did not feel supported.

On the other hand, each Chilean attack inspired risk for the goal defended by Lampe.

Bolivia lifted their spirits in the 36th minute when Erwin Saavedra's powerful shot ended in a corner kick. Juan Carlos Arce executed the center and Marc Enoumbáse anticipated the Chilean defense and scored the equalizer with a header.

With this transitory result, the first part concluded and gave way to a second in which the Venezuelan coach César Farías made three changes to tone up the attack, including Henry Vaca, Ramiro Vaca and Diego Bejarano.

The first minutes of the complement were favorable for the Green. He pressed on the sides and cornered Chile, which seemed not to have the same strength as the first half. A shot by Ramiro Vaca ended in one of the posts at 67' and at 70' Enoumbá hit the crossbar.

 The contribution of the Vaca was key for Bolivia to tone up in its offensive management.

But everything collapsed at 76 'when Alexis Sánchez generated another genius. The Inter de Italia attacker opened up Mario Islas on the right and he lowered the ball to Núñez, who left Lampe unsettled at first.

It was the beginning of the national debacle because Chile took over the game again with a greater dynamic and with an unstoppable Alexis Sánchez, because at 84 'he scored again, leaving Bolivia liquidated despite the fact that he discounted three minutes later through his scorer, Marcelo Martins after a precise cross from Henry Vaca.

In the final minutes, Bolivia looked for a tie but without order or clarity, something that was lacking for much of the match. 

Urged to win, Bolivia and Chile play their last chance to qualify

 The match will be played from 4:00 p.m. at the Hernando Siles stadium. Seventh and eighth in the qualifying table will face each other. The appointed referee is the Venezuelan Alexis Herrera.

They both have one foot outside of Qatar. Forced to win to stay in the race for the World Cup, Bolivia and Chile will play their last chips on Tuesday in La Paz, for the penultimate round of the South American World Cup.

The meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz. The appointed referee is the Venezuelan Alexis Herrera.

In seventh and eighth places respectively (16 and 15 points), Chile and Bolivia need a miracle to reach one of the four qualifying spots for Qatar-2022.

With Brazil in the lead (36 points) and Argentina in second place (32 points), both already classified, in addition to Ecuador in a comfortable third place (24 points), the Red and the Green depend on the poor results of Peru, Uruguay and Colombia to dream of a ticket to the Gulf country.

Therefore, both need to win and, if possible, reduce their goal difference to at least conquer fifth place in the table, which would enable them to enter a play-off with a team from Asia as the last chance to qualify.

- Bolivia, thrashed by bottom team -

La Verde comes from losing a valuable opportunity to score against Venezuela, bottom in the regional pre-world championship. On the contrary, César Farías' team was humiliated by Vinotinto with a 4-1 to forget.

"The qualifiers are changing ... we are not going to give up," said the coach of Venezuelan nationality after the landslide inflicted by his compatriots.

The Bolivian team will not have Leonel Justiniano in midfield, who was sent off in the match against the Caribbean team. His replacement could be Fernando Saucedo.

Farías is also expected to have midfielders Ramiro and Henry Vaca, in addition to midfielder Juan Carlos Arce and the historic scorer, Marcelo Martins Moreno.

Bolivia has to take advantage of its home advantage in the match against La Roja if it still dreams of reaching the World Cup, especially since its next rivals, Colombia and Brazil, will not leave it easy.

- Chile, a failure at altitude -

Those led by the Uruguayan Martín Lasarte come from a 2-1 defeat against Argentina at home in Calama (north), at 2,400 meters of altitude. They decided to surprise the albicelestes in a highland stadium, but the strategy did not work.

After the defeat, the Chilean team remained in Calama to train for the more challenging altitude of La Paz.

"It is a game in which a great height is played, but we have been training here for several days, trying to adapt in the best way to reach that game at one hundred, to get those three points that are very important", assured Gabriel Suazo.

Chile arrives at Siles with one less striker: Eduardo Vargas was injured during the match against Argentina, the technical team reported on Sunday.

Vargas joins the injured goalkeeper and captain Claudio Bravo, while defenders Guillermo Maripán and Sebastián Vegas, both suspended, will also be absent.

Possible lineups:

Chile: Brayan Cortes; Paulo Diaz, Mauricio Isla, Gary Medel, Gabriel Suazo; Erick Pulgar, Charles Aránguiz; Victor Davila, Marcelino Nunez, Alexis Sanchez; Ben Breretton. DT: Martin Lasarte.

Bolivia: Carlos Lampe; Diego Bejarano, Marc Enoumba, Jairo Quinteros, José Sagredo; Erwin Saavedra, Fernando Saucedo, Moises Villaroel, Juan Carlos Arce; Marcelo Martins and Victor Abrego. DT: Cesar Farias