Bolivia boss admits he's devastated and sees a brighter future | OneFootball

Bolivia national team coach Oscar Villegas looked visibly dejected after La Verde’s 2-1 defeat to Iraq in the final of the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup, although he predicted a promising future for his new generation of players.

“(We are) devastated, completely devastated, because we believed we could be at the World Cup,” Villegas said on Tuesday at a press conference at Monterrey stadium.

After losing the match that would have allowed Bolivia to return to the World Cup after 32 years away, the coach emphasized that the rejuvenated Bolivian national team has a promising future.

“It is a very young squad with a lot of potential. They showed that they have a good present, but we know that what is coming is even better,” highlighted the coach born in Cochabamba.

In his analysis, Villegas lamented the defensive mistakes that Iraq took advantage of. “The goals they scored against us came from details that cost us the match.”

Regarding the 1-0 deficit, resulting from a corner kick, he emphasized that “it was the first goal they scored against us from a set piece.”

Despite managing a temporary equalizer in the first half, the South American coach lamented the lack of finishing.

“We simply lacked the goal,” Villegas stressed, acknowledging that attacking set pieces “are something to improve” for Bolivia.

Villegas, who took charge in July 2024, when his team was outside the qualification zone with three points, recalled how his players finished the CONMEBOL qualifiers in seventh place, securing a spot in the intercontinental playoff.

“I want to tell my players that I recognize the great value they showed in bringing us this far (…) the journey is what matters, what encourages us to keep believing in them,” Villegas emphasized.

After the elimination, Villegas thanked the city of Monterrey for its hospitality. “Thank you to Mexico for the way we were treated; we felt at home. I wish Mexico the best of luck in the World Cup and as a host country.”

*By AFP

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.