New Bolivia boss Soria has a mountain to climb in Copa America

There is always an advantage to being considered an underdog and unknown quantity, and Bolivia (rank outsiders at 100/1 with Coral to win the tournament outright) can certainly be considered that, having named just four foreign-based players in their Copa America training camp squad.

New El Verde coach Mauricio Soria, only appointed permanently in January, has his work cut out to navigate a tricky Pool A, also featuring hosts Chile (4/1) plus Ecuador and Mexico, which is surely set to be dubbed the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’.

If Bolivia are to beat their outsiders tag they must shed any lingering insecurities acquired from five successive exits in round one. This will not be easy as the landlocked nation were last winners way back in 1963, with their most recent success being crowned runners-up in 1997.

Both of those ventures came on home soil as hosts, which might stand El Verde in good stead as they make the short journey across the Sand Flats to cross over into neighbouring Chile.

Fittingly, Chile were also Bolivia’s first official international competitors back in 1926, when they smashed El Verde 7-1, but Soria will be hoping his side can now hold their own against the hosts in their Copa quest.

Soria, a former El Verde veteran in nets, can call upon robust captain Ronald Raldes to command his rearguard. The centre back stalwart has 81 caps, making him seventh in the charts for all-time appearances, and he can draw level in fifth should Bolivia qualify from Group A.

Watch Raldes square-up to Lionel Messi here:

Argentine-born attacking midfielder Damian Lizio, from River Plate ranks, also appears to have forced his way into Soria’s thoughts after grabbing a goal and an assist last time out against Venezuela.