Why Argentine players are given ‘personal oxygen tubes’ ahead of World Cup Qualifying match against Bolivia?

Argentina's players are pictured using oxygen tubes ahead of their game against Bolivia in the World Cup Qualifier.

Why Argentine players are given ‘personal oxygen tubes’ ahead of World Cup Qualifying match against Bolivia?

Estadio Hernando Siles and Alex Mac Allister (Source: via Flickr and Instagram @alemacallister)

Argentina midfielder Alex Mac Allister shared a photo of him using an oxygen tube in La Paz, Bolivia. The players were given these tubes in order to battle the high altitudes ahead of their World Cup Qualifier against Bolivia. The match takes place under unique circumstances, with Bolivia’s stadium, Estadio Hernando Siles, being 3,637 meters above sea level.

Argentina’s home ground, Estadio Monumental, is only 277m above sea level in comparison. FIFA had earlier restricted the stadium from being used due to its special location. A restriction of 2,500m above sea level was initially placed. The number gradually increased to 3,000 and Estadio Hernando Siles was given a special exemption.

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The stadium is also the location of the infamous 6-1 game where Bolivia ran rampant against Argentina in 2009. Diego Maradona was head coach at the time and admitted, “Every goal was a knife to my heart”. Needless to say, Argentina is not the only team that has required oxygen tubes against Bolivia.

Brazil played Bolivia in 2018, and the score ended in a 0-0 draw. Neymar was furious with the conditions and spoke out, saying, “Inhumane to play in such conditions, field, altitude, ball… everything bad.” The entire Brazil Squad was then pictured breathing in oxygen through a mask and a tube. Argentina will play Bolivia on September 12 after a 1-0 win against Ecuador at their home ground.

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Argentina and Bolivia has a long history

Lionel Messi takes on Bolivian Opposition
Lionel Messi takes on Bolivian Opposition (Source: via EFE)

Counting international friendlies, the two countries have faced each other on 15 different occasions, with Argentina coming out victorious in 10 of those games. Bolivia has beaten Argentina twice at the infamous Estadio Hernando Siles. However, they have never beaten the Argentines at their home stadium, Estadio Monumental.

Now facing each other as part of the World Cup Qualifiers, Argentina goes in as heavy favorites even if the match is played under unfavorable circumstances against them. This matchup has seen some high-scoring encounters. Bolivia famously beat Argentina 6-1 when Diego Maradona was coach.

A team that boasted the likes of Javier Zanetti, Carlos Tevez, Di Maria and Lionel Messi was beaten quite handily on the day. However, Argentina has had two massive results against Bolivia as well. 5-0 and 7-0 in 2015 as part of their international friendlies.

Up to that point, Argentina and Bolivia had drawn their past three games, so the huge scoreline must have come as a shock to the players. Current defending champions Argentina will go into the match as favorites to win, taking them one step closer to the 2026 World Cup in the USA.

Lionel Messi may or may not be present for the game after the player was seen leaving a medical center after the game against Ecuador. Lionel Scaloni came out and said, “Messi is going to travel to Bolivia…The team is going to be similar to the one that played against Ecuador.” Even without their main man, Argentina is expected to leave the stadium with all three points.

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