After using on a wonderful freekick by Lionel Messi, which guided Argentina to a 1-0 win towards Ecuador, the Albiceleste will proceed its World Cup 2026 qualification marketing campaign towards Bolivia on the Estadio Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz on Wednesday.
FOLLOW BOLIVIA VS ARGENTINA LIVE
On paper, it needs to be one other seamless day on the workplace for Lionel Scaloni’s world champions. Undefeated within the final three fixtures towards Bolivia, present kind suggests nothing lower than an Argentina win. Add the truth that the Bolivians are reeling from a 1-5 thrashing by the hands of Brazil of their final match, it turns into evident that Argentina not solely enjoys superiority on paper but additionally morale.
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There is one thing, nonetheless, that may work within the favour of the Bolivians. Call it Mother Nature’s assist if you’ll, however when Argentina comes out of the tunnel of the Hernando Siles stadium, it is going to be conscious of the daunting bodily battle that may lie forward for the following 90 minutes.
What makes the Estadio Hernando Siles such a troublesome venue for visiting groups?
Situated at practically 12,000 ft (3637 metres) above imply sea stage, the skinny air across the Hernando Siles stadium might be a bonus for the Bolivian gamers as a result of Scaloni’s males have had minimal time to regulate to the difficult circumstances. Even if the world champion undertook a few coaching classes to acclimatise to the circumstances, enjoying a aggressive match might be a very totally different ballgame for Messi and his males.
According to media experiences, Argentina gamers got private oxygen tubes on arrival to fight the altitude illness. Midfielder Alexis Mac Allister had uploaded an image of him utilizing the identical, however he has since deleted the put up.
While there is no such thing as a denying that the Hernando Siles is likely one of the most scenic stadiums on the planet, overlooking the Altiplano vary, it is usually the world’s most elevated stadium, in response to FIFA. Named after Bolivia’s thirty first president, Hernando Siles Reyes, it’s the nation’s largest stadium, with 41,143 seats.
FIFA’s altitude ban
Bolivia needed to battle with soccer’s governing physique FIFA, to retain Hernando Siles’ proper to be often called an official World Cup qualifying venue.
Until May 2007, FIFA did settle for the stadium as an official venue to host World Cup qualifiers regardless of vocal protests from visiting groups concerning the altitude benefit loved by Bolivia every time a match was performed on the stadium.
The protests had been heard, and on May 27, 2007, FIFA declared that no World Cup Qualifying matches may very well be performed in stadiums above 8,200 ft (2,500 m) above sea stage. This meant that the Hernando Siles stadium wouldn’t be eligible to host World Cup qualifying matches.
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Players and folks outdoors Bolivia have all the time been antipathetic in direction of the Hernando Siles Stadium, and the choice was seen as a welcome change. However, there have been individuals who spoke out towards the choice, like then-Bolivian President Evo Morales and Argentina legend Diego Maradona, saying that the transfer was discriminatory towards high-altitude nations in Latin America.
The Estadio Hernando Siles turned an embodiment of the Bolivian wrestle towards FIFA’’s ban on high-altitude video games. After widespread campaigning, FIFA elevated the altitude restrict from 2500 metres to 3000 metres on June 27, 2007. The subsequent day, the governing physique additionally introduced a particular exemption for the Hernando Siles, permitting the stadium to proceed holding World Cup qualifying matches.
The ban was revoked in May 2008.
While the stadium has been cleared by FIFA, there have been events the place gamers have spoken out towards the circumstances. In 2017, Brazil’s Neymar posted pictures of his teammates with oxygen masks earlier than a 2018 World Cup qualification recreation within the stadium. He stated it’s “inhumane” to play underneath these circumstances.
How has Argentina carried out on the Estadio Hernando Siles in latest instances?
Argentina’s most up-to-date recreation on the stadium was in October 2020 for a qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi and his males eked out a 2-1 win, with Lautaro Martinez equalising to cancel out Marcelo Moreno’s opener and Joaquin Correa scoring a late winner within the 79th minute.
Three years earlier, Argentina succumbed to a 2-0 loss in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match.
In a 2014 World Cup qualifying match, Argentina drew 1-1 with Bolivia, with Moreno and Ever Banega on the scoresheet.
Messi was reported to be sick in that match at half-time as he gasped for air. His teammate Angel Di Maria needed to be given oxygen. Commenting on the altitude, Messi stated – “It is terrible to play here at altitude, so a draw is a good result for us. Every time you make an effort or play at high pace, you need time to recover.”
“Some of the players had a headache and others felt a bit dizzy, but there was nothing wrong with me.”
However, it was in April 2009 that Argentina suffered a 6-1 thumping towards Bolivia in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match. Maradona, who had spoken in favour of the Hernando Siles’ proper to host qualifiers, noticed his crew endure its heaviest defeat in 60 years.
Rodrigo De Paul, Gonzalo Montiel, Leandro Paredes, Lautaro and Messi all began for Argentina in its final match on the Hernando Siles stadium however the world champion additionally has younger blood like Julian Alvarez and Alejandro Garnacho, who’re but to face this daunting problem.
Coming to the match, Messi would possibly begin the sport from the bench after choosing up a minor knock towards Ecuador. He skipped the final coaching session with the crew earlier than the crew left for Bolivia. Scaloni instructed a news convention Sunday that he might depart a call on Messi till just a few hours earlier than the match. Lisandro Martinez is almost certainly to not be risked as a result of a foot drawback sustained in Manchester United’s latest Premier League match towards Arsenal. Apart from that, it needs to be a full-strength crew for the Albiceleste.
Bolivia will financial institution closely on Moreno to search out the online towards what needs to be a difficult opposition and a tricky nut to crack regardless of the altitude benefit the house crew will take pleasure in.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com