Will Bolivia bury Chile’s World Cup hopes?
Three games remain in the CONMEBOL 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and, in addition to Brazil and Argentina, all eight teams can still make it to Qatar. The Chilean team enters the third-last matchday four points behind fourth place and three points behind fifth place, which leads to the intercontinental play-offs.
Accordingly, “La Roja” needs victory away in La Paz, where several nations have cut their teeth again recently due to the special circumstances at the Estadio Hernando Siles. In the run-up to the clash between Bolivia and Chile, the odds are therefore slightly in favour of the home side.
The Bolivian national football team still has a chance of somehow slipping into the top five. To do so, however, they will have to make use of their home advantage, which results from the low air pressure in the stadium in La Paz, 3,600 metres above sea level. La Verde” has won all of its last four international matches in its own stadium.
Accordingly, there is a lot of value to be found in Bolivia vs. Chile in tip 1, especially since “La Roja” has not exactly covered itself with glory lately and has lost the last two compulsory matches in a row.
Bolivia – Statistics & current form
The Bolivian national football team has already reached the finals of a World Cup three times in 1930, 1950 and 1994. For 28 years now, “La Verde” has been waiting to finally be allowed to participate again. Most recently, however, there was little to be gained for the overall winners of the Copa América in 1963.
In the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, Bolivia had already lost their chance on the sixth-last matchday, and despite the fact that they are third from last in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, their chances of making the trip to Qatar are still slim.
Won only four of the 15 qualifying matches
However, if César Farías’ men can once again make the most of their home advantage at the Estadio Hernando Siles and claim a three-goal win over the Chilean side, there could be a glimmer of hope.
After all, away to Colombia in March, they face another direct rival, which means that “La Verde” will be somewhat dependent on support, but still have a lot in their own hands. In view of the fact that only four of the 15 qualifying matches have been won so far, Bolivia vs. Chile tip 1 is nevertheless not under the best of circumstances.
By far the worst defence in CONMEBOL World Cup Quali
At least offensively, however, the Bolivian selection is something to be proud of. With 21 goals from their 15 qualifying matches, Bolivia have the fourth-best attack in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers 2022. However, the offensive fireworks are countered by a sometimes desolate defence.
With 32 goals conceded, “La Verde” has by far the worst defence in the entire South American qualifying round. Only last Friday, they suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat away to bottom-placed Venezuela, who had previously lost 11 of 14 games and scored only nine goals. Momentum looks different, especially away from home.
Bolivia’s likely line-up:
Lampe – Fernández – Sagredo – Quinteros – Bejarano – Ramallo – Villarroel – Chumacero – Arce – Miranda – Moreno
Last matches played by Bolivia:
World Cup – CONMEBOL Qualifiers
01/28 2022 – Venezuela 4 – 1 Bolivia
Friendly match
01/21 2022 – Bolivia 5 – 0 Trinidad and Tobago
World Cup – Qualifier CONMEBOL
11/16 2021 – Bolivia 3 – 0 Uruguay
11/12 2021 – Peru 3 – 0 Bolivia
Friendly match
11/06 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 1 Bolivia
Chile – Statistics & current form
The Chilean national football team experienced its finest hour in the 2010s, first winning the Copa América on home soil for the first time in the federation’s history in 2015 – and doing so in the final against neighbour and arch-rival Argentina.
Even today, 4 July 2015, the day on which that historic victory was achieved, is considered a bank holiday. A year later, “La Roja” even topped the title win when they defended their title at the Copa América Centenario 2016 – again with a victory over the Albiceleste.
Three points off fifth place
During these successful years, Chile also reached the last 16 at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, before their high-flying run came to a temporary end in the wake of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The highly decorated Chileans missed the tournament in Russia and also slipped down the FIFA world rankings.
La Roja” is still in 24th position here. At the moment, however, everything looks as if the 2022 World Cup in Kater will also take place without Chilean participation, because with only four victories from the 15 qualifying matches so far, they are three points off fifth place alone, which only leads to the intercontinental play-offs.
Only 16 goals in 15 qualifiers
Martín Lasarte’s side have lost two qualifying matches in a row and travel to Bolivia, where low pressure is a constant issue. Accordingly, bettors are assigning “La Roja” the underdog role.
The problem is undoubtedly the fact that the highly decorated attack around Alexis Sánchez and Eduardo Vargas is currently not scoring enough goals. The Chilean team has scored only 16 goals in 15 qualifying matches. Too few to bring in the three points on a more regular basis.
Predicted line-up of Chile:
Bravo – Vegas – Medel – Maripán – P. Díaz – Aránguiz – Pulgar – Sánchez – Nunez – Vargas – B. Díaz
Last matches played by Chile:
World Cup – CONMEBOL qualifiers
01/28 2022 – Chile 1 – 2 Argentina
Friendly match
12/12 2021 – El Salvador 0 – 1 Chile
12/09 2021 – Chile 2 – 2 Mexico
World Cup – CONMEBOL Qualifiers
11/17 2021 – Chile 0 – 2 Ecuador
11/12 2021 – Paraguay 0 – 1 Chile
Bolivia – Chile Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 7 – 10 – 30
There have been a total of 47 international matches between the two nations so far and with 30 victories, the Chilean national team leads the direct comparison very clearly. However, in their most recent match at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, “La Roja” suffered a 1-0 away defeat.
Bolivia – Chile Tip
For Bolivia against Chile, the prediction has to take into account that things did not go too well for both nations in the CONMEBOL World Cup Quali. “La Verde conceded far too many goals and La Roja struggled to score. Three matchdays before the end of the qualifying round, both teams have only theoretical chances of reaching the final round in Qatar and will have to play to win in La Paz.
In the end, nuances such as the Bolivian national team’s proven home advantage could make the difference. Accordingly, we see a lot of value in betting on a home win for “La Verde”.
