CURACAO VS BOLIVIA PREVIEW & PREDICTION
Curaçao versus Bolivia is not the most attractive poster of this international round, but for the attentive punter there is definitely excellent value. Read on soon!
Curacao:
With a 82nd place on the FIFA world rankings, Curaçao is of course still a typical football bomber, but the local football association is definitely working hard. In the Netherlands there are of course several football players who have Antillean blood flowing through the veins, so Curaçao can potentially grow into a local superpower. Last year, the country already for the first time in history seized the Caribbean Cup by defeating in the final six-time champion Jamaica 2-1. In the World Cup qualifying, the team of national coach Remko Bicenti was eliminated in the third round, although it managed to stunt a round earlier by looking at Cuba, which is much more respected. Of course, Mexico and the United States remain the absolute top countries in the CONCACAF zone, but if even a country like Panama knows how to qualify for the World Cup, there are indeed opportunities for Curaçao.
Curaçao is therefore working on an interesting project and Bicentini has also compiled a Dutch-tinted selection for the two friendly international matches against Bolivia (on 26 March both countries will again compete against each other). Almost all players play or have played in the Dutch Eredivisie, the Jupiler League or the Second Division, with Eloy Room (PSV), Leandro Bacuna (Reading), Charlison Benschop (Hanover 96), Darryl Lachman (Willem II) and Cuco Martina ( Everton) as most famous names. Heracles flavor maker Brandley Kuwas and NEC defender Suently Alberto also received an invitation, but they had to cancel injured. Nevertheless, with the remaining names – for regional terms – you can make a very nice team. ‘The preparations are progressing well,’ says Bicentini.
Bolivia:
Bolivia ended in the South American World Cup qualification as penultimate and wants this interland round to look to the future. Basque coach Mauricio Soria has put together a very young selection, only six of the 24 players have more than ten caps behind their name. Only four players earn their living outside their own borders and as many as eight players have to make their debut. “We want to use the two practice duels against Curaçao to implement some new tactics,” Soria said. “In addition, I want to give the young boys playing time. This is all new to them, so it is a new experience for them. ”
I understand that Bolivia wants to take a new direction in both tactics and players. For its own public in the rarefied mountain air of the Andes mountains, the country sometimes wants to stunt, but outside its own borders El Verde is usually completely without a chance. Of the last fifteen away games, no less than fourteen were lost – only the away match against null Nicaragua yielded a thrilling 0-1 victory. With former Shakhtar Donetsk striker Marcelo Martins, the country actually has only one footballer who does not have a constant fight with the ball, but he is not there on Friday night. The young Bolivians have a Friday night against Curaçao in tropical Willemstad so no one to fall back on.
PREDICTION: Bolivia to win @ 1.62
