Temuco (Chile), June 25 (IANS) Bolivia coach Mauricio Soria on Thursday said his side will take it as their last game and go all out against Peru in their Copa America quarter-final.
Bolivia survived a tough group which included the likes of host Chile, Ecuador and Mexico to advance to the last eight stage. They take on Peru later on Thursday.
“We have to take it like it’s our last match,” Soria was quoted as saying by goal.com. We cannot afford to make any mistakes and make sure that every time we get forward we make it count in order to reach the next round.”
Soria admitted he has to face one of the toughest challenges till date as a coach but he hopes the side will make up for their dismal display in the final group stage game against Chile when they were beaten 0-5.
“It’s the biggest game of my life but I hope to have others, and better,” he said. “We want to play a great match and represent the country as everyone would hope for.”
Bolivia are also looking to seal a semi- final spot for the first time since reaching the finals in 1997 on home soil, however, Soria has dismissed comparisons with the team widely regarded as among the finest in Bolivian history.
“It’s a different team,we had the support of our people. We were a breed of players who defined an era, who qualified for the World Cup in the USA and who made the quarter-finals in the Copa America in Uruguay in 1995.”
“This team does not have so many outstanding players but it’s a battle-hardened team.”
The coach also said he believes the encounter will be a Peru will be a hard nut to crack.
“Peru are a team which has progressed a lot and quickly thanks to their coach Ricardo Gareca. They have a lot of virtues and experienced players like Claudio Pizarro and Paolo Guerrero. They are fast and we will try to put as many obstacles as possible up to prevent their qualities and try to bring out our own.”