Bolivia Capitalizes on Altitude for 4-0 Victory Over Venezuela in World Cup Qualifier

Posted : 10 September 2024

Bolivia, facing a tough run in the South American World Cup qualifiers, made a bold move by shifting their home match against Venezuela to Lal Lato, a city located at an altitude of 4,150 meters. This decision paid off as the team secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Venezuela, a side that had previously held Brazil to a 1-1 draw and defeated Chile 3-0. The high altitude at Lal Lato's Municipal Stadium played a significant role in Bolivia’s success, as Venezuela struggled to adapt to the challenging conditions.

Prior to the victory, Bolivia had been enduring a difficult campaign. They had lost five of their last six qualifying matches and suffered a disappointing run in the Copa America, where they were defeated in all three of their games. Ranked near the bottom of the qualifying table, Bolivia was desperate for a turnaround, and the decision to play at a higher altitude was seen as a key tactical move. The team’s victory over Venezuela marked a significant shift in their fortunes.

Bolivia has a long history of using altitude to their advantage in home matches, typically playing in La Paz, which sits at 3,640 meters above sea level. Teams visiting Bolivia often find it difficult to cope with the thin air, and many players, including those from Argentina and Brazil, have resorted to using oxygen masks during and after matches to recover. In 2017, Brazil's Neymar even described playing in these conditions as "inhumane" following a 0-0 draw with Bolivia in La Paz.

Although FIFA had previously banned matches in stadiums above 2,500 meters, Bolivia was granted an exception for La Paz. Now, they have been given permission to use the even higher Lal Lato stadium in El Alto, a decision that proved crucial in their win over Venezuela. Bolivia’s new coach, Oscar Villegas, took full advantage of this by fielding a squad largely made up of players accustomed to playing at altitude, including many from local clubs such as Olvis Reddy and Bolivar.

Looking ahead, Bolivia faces a tough road, especially in away matches. They will play against Chile next, where they have struggled historically, losing all seven of their away games this year. However, the victory over Venezuela at Lal Lato has given the team a much-needed confidence boost, and they will be hoping to maintain this momentum when they host Colombia at high altitude in their next home match on October 10.

Bolivia Capitalizes on Altitude for 4-0 Victory Over Venezuela in World Cup Qualifier

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