Bolivia are gearing up for a high-stakes showdown against Colombia at the sky-high venue of El Alto, marking their second World Cup qualifying game in this formidable new home. The Estadio Monumental in Maturin is set to come alive on Thursday as Venezuela prepares to host none other than the reigning world champions, Argentina, in front of a packed crowd.
The biggest headline? Lionel Messi's much-anticipated return. The Argentine legend is expected to make his first appearance since leading his team to Copa America glory, adding even more excitement to what promises to be a thrilling night of football.
First up, Bolivia takes on Colombia in what promises to be an intense clash. Bolivia couldn’t have asked for a better start at their new fortress, perched even higher than the notorious Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz. Last month, they stormed to a 4-0 victory over Venezuela, while Colombia made headlines with a memorable triumph over Argentina in Barranquilla.
Playing at Bolivia's home ground is no small feat - the stadium sits a staggering 3,637 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest professional stadiums in the world. This altitude could be the ultimate game-changer, potentially turning the matchup into a grueling challenge for the Colombians.
Bolivia should be riding high on confidence after securing back-to-back victories, the latest being a stunning 2-1 triumph over Chile on the road. That victory marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time Bolivia had won consecutive games since January 2022.
Key to their recent success has been striker Carmelo Algarañaz, who has netted three goals in nine appearances for his country in 2024. Algarañaz played a crucial role in last month’s win over Chile, further solidifying his impact on the squad.
However, Bolivia's youthful and relatively inexperienced team will feel the absence of veteran goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, who was forced off injured in the Chile game. At 37, Lampe’s leadership and experience will be sorely missed. To add to their concerns, Henry Vaca will also be unavailable for the hosts, leaving Bolivia with some gaps to fill.
BOLIVIA predicted lineup vs COLOMBIA: Viscarra (GK); Medina, Haquin, Suarez, Sagredo; Robson Matheus, E Vaca, Villamil; Miguelito, Algaranaz, Fernandez.
Colombia enter this clash eager to close the gap on table-topping Argentina, who sit just two points ahead. Unbeaten after the first eight matches of the qualifiers, with four wins and four draws, Colombia have been a model of consistency, amassing 16 points and remaining the only side in the region yet to taste defeat.
One of the most exciting stories for Los Cafeteros in 2024 has been the resurgence of James Rodriguez. The veteran midfielder's sensational form saw him clinch the Player of the Tournament award at the 2024 Copa America, an achievement few saw coming after years of ups and downs in his career.
Fans will have been relieved to see star winger Luis Diaz rested by Liverpool over the weekend, hoping he'll be fresh for this key fixture. However, their excitement was quickly tempered when right-back Daniel Muñoz suffered a muscular injury just minutes into Crystal Palace’s game, forcing him to withdraw from the squad - a significant blow to Colombia's defense.
COLOMBIA predicted lineup vs BOLIVIA: Vargas (GK); Arias, Cuesta, Sanchez, Mojica; Richard, Carrascal; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba.
Venezuela are on the verge of their most promising World Cup bid yet, while Argentina, reigning world champions, are already close to booking their ticket to the tournament as we near the halfway mark of the qualifiers. Argentina sit comfortably atop the group, while Venezuela are fighting tooth and nail in sixth place.
For La Vinotinto, this feels like a golden opportunity to make history. With 10 points from two wins, four draws, and just two defeats in their opening eight matches, Venezuela find themselves clinging to the final automatic qualification spot. It’s an inspiring run that could lead to their first-ever World Cup appearance - a dream they’ll be fighting to make a reality.
Venezuela managed to salvage a point in their last game, holding Uruguay to a 0-0 draw on home turf. However, after a strong start that saw them earn seven points from their first four qualifiers, their momentum has slowed, with just three points collected from the next four matches.
Argentinian manager Fernando Batista, leading Venezuela against his homeland, knows the stakes are high. His side will likely need at least a point from this clash to stay in the qualifying spots, with Paraguay and Bolivia hot on their heels.
Facing Argentina, the reigning world champions, is about as tough as it gets on the international stage. But should Venezuela pull off a heroic result, it could be the defining moment that propels them closer to their dream of a first-ever World Cup qualification.
Venezuela face some key injuries, with Sparta Rotterdam’s Teo Quintero missing out on his potential international debut and Jhon Chancellor still sidelined. This could mean the backline that held firm against Uruguay remains unchanged for the crucial clash against Argentina.
VENEZUELA predicted lineup vs ARGENTINA: Romo (GK); Aramburu, Osorio, Ferraresi, Navarro; Bello, Casseres, J Martinez, Segovia, Soteldo; Rondon.
Coach Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina sit comfortably at the top of the table with 18 points from eight games, and history suggests reaching the mid-20s will all but guarantee qualification. While nothing is assured just yet, Argentina already seem a lock for the next World Cup as they hit the halfway point.
Argentina have been dominant in their matchups against Venezuela, going unbeaten in their last seven competitive meetings and losing just twice in 28 encounters. With captain Lionel Messi returning to the squad, their firepower looks even more dangerous.
Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios is back after injury, but Scaloni has had to deal with last-minute withdrawals from Paulo Dybala, Nicolas Gonzalez, and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. To make matters trickier, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is suspended for both of Argentina's upcoming matches due to his antics in the loss to Colombia last month.
ARGENTINA predicted lineup vs VENEZUELA: Rulli (GK); Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Alvarez; La Martinez, Messi.
