Colombia Faces High-Altitude Challenge Against Bolivia in World Cup Qualifiers

Colombia is set to defend its unbeaten record in the World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia on Thursday in a match that will take place at an elevation exceeding 4,150 meters above sea level. The fixture is scheduled to occur at the Municipal Stadium of El Alto, presenting a significant altitude challenge for the traveling team.

In an effort to acclimatize to the high altitudes before the match, the Colombian team, managed by Argentine coach Néstor Lorenzo, arrived in Cochabamba five days prior to the game. Cochabamba sits at approximately 2,800 meters above sea level and was chosen as the acclimatization site.

Lorenzo addressed concerns about the effectiveness of such acclimatization, in light of Bolivian coach Óscar Villegas’s remarks suggesting it would not benefit the Colombian squad. “There’s no magic formula; one searches for methods to mitigate the effects of altitude,” Lorenzo stated. He further highlighted the unique conditions of the game, noting that “the physical aspects are crucial, especially regarding the ball’s motion, which is lighter and travels faster at high altitudes.”

Colombia is currently in second place in the standings after eight games, trailing Argentina by two points and maintaining an unbeaten record. The team comes into the match buoyed by a 2-1 victory against Argentina in Barranquilla the previous month, thanks to goals by Yerson Mosquera and James Rodríguez.

The team will be without defender Daniel Muñoz from the Premier League’s Crystal Palace, who is sidelined with a muscle injury. He will also miss the subsequent match against Chile in Barranquilla.

Despite injury setbacks, James Rodríguez, who was named the best player of the recent Copa América where Colombia finished as runners-up to Argentina, is slated to play. James recently returned to European football with Spain’s Rayo Vallecano, a move that took time to materialize but has since seen him gain considerable playing time and form.

Lorenzo commented on James’s fitness, saying, “James is doing well, he’s gotten significant training at Rayo Vallecano and has played plenty of minutes.” The coach acknowledged the unpredictable nature of playing at high altitude, stating they will “analyze minute by minute” the performance of all players under these conditions.

For Bolivia, the stakes are high as the team sits in eighth place, seeking to capture a direct qualification position. Under Villegas, Bolivia recently secured two victories, including a commanding 4-0 win over Venezuela and a 2-1 triumph against Chile. The team hopes to replicate their approach against Colombia.

Bolivia called up 27 players well ahead of the match, including Miguel Terceros from Brazil’s Santos. The team is also searching for a replacement for experienced goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, who is out with an Achilles tendon injury.

The expected lineup for Bolivia includes Guillermo Viscarra, Diego Medina, Luis Haquin, Marcelo Suárez, Héctor Cuellar, Robson Matheus, Lucas Chávez, Roberto Fernández, Ervin Vaca, Carmelo Algarañaz, and Ramiro Vaca. Colombia’s lineup is likely to feature Camilo Vargas, Daniel Muñoz, Dávinson Sánchez, Willer Ditta, Juan David Cabal, Nelson De Ossa, Matheus Uribe, Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz, and Roger Martínez.