Lampe, Moreno lead Bolivia squad for World Cup qualifiers

LA PAZ, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) — Veteran goalkeeper Carlos Lampe and striker Marcelo Moreno will spearhead Bolivia’s squad for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Chile.

Lampe, the goalkeeper for Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield, and Moreno, who is the leading scorer in the South American qualifying tournament with nine goals, were named on a provisional 34-man list released by the Bolivian Football Federation.

Head coach Cesar Farias also included midfielder Alejandro Chumacero, winger Juan Carlos Arce and midfielder Fernando Saucedo, all of whom are out of contract with their respective clubs.

Bolivia will meet Venezuela in Caracas on January 28 and Chile in La Paz four days later.

With 15 points from 14 matches, Farias’ men are currently eighth in the 10-team South American zone standings, just two points shy of the qualifying places.

La Verde are aiming for a berth in just their fourth World Cup and their first since 1994. The top four teams in the South American group will automatically qualify for football’s showpiece tournament in Qatar while the fifth-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.

Following is the provisional Bolivia squad:

Goalkeepers: Carlos Lampe, Ruben Cordano, and Jhohan Gutierrez.

Defenders: Jesus Sagredo, Adrian Jusino, Jose Sagredo, Diego Bejarano, Roberto Carlos Fernandez, Marc Enoumba, Sebastian Alvarez, Jairo Velasco, Samuel Guzman, Leonardo Zabala and Jairo Quinteros.

Midfielders: Rodrigo Ramallo, Fernando Saucedo, Juan Carlos Arce, Erwin Saavedra, Leonel Justiniano, Moises Villarroel, Rai Lima, Franz Gonzalez and Alejandro Chumacero.

Forwards: Bruno Miranda, Victor Abrego, Cesar Menacho, John Garcia, Jeyson Chura, Henry Vaca, Jose Flores, Juan Carlos Montenegron, Nelson Orozco Miguel Terceros, Marcelo Moreno.