Bolivia vs. USA
(International Friendly) Jan. 24 at Stadio de Tahuichi in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. (No U.S. Television.)
HISTORY Bolivia has traditionally been one of the weakest countries in South America. It has qualified for only three World Cups (1930, ’50 and ’94). Its greatest feats came in 1963 when it hosted and won the Copa America for the first and only time and in 1993 when it beat Brazil 2-0, marking the first time Brazil lost a World Cup qualifier. Bolivia lost to Brazil in the final of the ’97 Copa America in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, but it has qualified for the 1999 Confederations Cup since Brazil is the defending champion. Bolivia has been inactive since World Cup ’98 qualifying ended. It enters the game with a four-game losing streak.
LAST 10 INTERNATIONALS | June 18, 1997 — Uruguay 1-0 (Copa America). |
| June 21, 1997 — Colombia 2-1 (Copa America). |
| June 25, 1997 — Mexico 3-1 (Copa America). |
| June 29, 1997 — Brazil 1-3 (Copa America). |
| July 6, 1997 — at Peru 1-2 (World Cup qual.). |
| July 20, 1997 — Uruguay 1-0 (World Cup qual.). |
| Aug. 20, 1997 — at Colombia 0-3 (World Cup qual.). |
| Sept. 10, 1997 — at Paraguay 1-2 (World Cup qual.). |
| Oct. 12, 1997 — at Ecuador 0-1 (World Cup qual.). |
| Nov. 16, 1997 — at Chile 0-3 (World Cup qual.). |
U.S. SERIES The United States is winless in five games against Bolivia. Jaime Moreno’s goal, after an end-to-end run, in the last meeting in Washington was a sign of things to come for local fans. Within weeks, he joined D.C. United.
USA-Bolivia matches | May 23, 1993 — 0-0 tie in Fullerton, Calif. |
| Feb. 18, 1994 — 1-1 tie in Miami. |
| March 26, 1994 — 2-2 tie in Dallas. |
| July 11, 1995 — Bolivia 1-0 (Copa America) in Paysandu, Uruguay. |
| June 12, 1996 — Bolivia 2-0 in Washington, D.C. |
Ç Bolivia leads series 2-0-3.
BOLIVIAN ROSTER New Bolivian national team coach Hector “Bambino” Veira is using the match against the United States to look at new players as he prepares for the Copa America, where Bolivia will face host Paraguay, Japan and Peru, and the Confederations Cup in Mexico this summer. Eight players from ’98 Bolivian champion Blooming head the roster.
Goalkeepers — Jose Fernandez (Blooming), Sergio Galarza (Real Santa Cruz), Bernardo Rea (Guabira), Marco Antonio Salamanca (Real Potosi).
Defenders — Sergio Castillo (Oriente Petrolero), Eduardo Jiguchi (Bolivar), Ronald Arana (Oriente Petrolero), Lorgio Alvarez (Blooming), Limberg Morejon (Wilsterman), Renny Rivera (Blooming), Percy Gil (Guabira), Juan Carlos Farah (Oriente Petrolero), Rolando Rea (The Strongest).
Midfielders — Raul Justiniano (Blooming), Luis Liendo (Boca Juniors, Argentina), Raul Gutierrez (Blooming), Mauricio Ramos (Tampa Bay Mutiny, USA), Jose Loayza (Wilsterman), Ruben Tufino (Blooming), Limberg Gutierrez (Blooming), Richard Uriona (Oriente Petrolero), Gonzalo Galindo (Wilsterman).
Strikers — Roger Suarez (Oriente Petrolero), Juan Berthy Suarez (The Strongest), Jefferson Gottardi (Bolivar), Milton Coimbra (Oriente Petrolero), Martin Menacho (Blooming), Carlos Cardenas (Bolivar).
