Paraguay and Bolivia will face off in the World Cup 2014 qualifiers on Friday.
Both teams are essentially eliminated and this game could decide which club gets eliminated from the World Cup finals next summer first. The top four sides in the group earn automatic spots in the tournament next summer, while the fifth place team has to earn the spot via a two-legged playoff against the AFC fifth place team.
Both of these clubs have already missed out on a top four finish and their only hope is to finish in fifth. Bolivia has 10 points in 13 games throughout the qualifiers and can accrue a maximum of 19 points if it wins its final three games. A Bolivian loss or draw coupled with a Uruguayan or Venezuelan win would eliminate Bolivia from contention.
Meanwhile, Paraguay has eight points in 12 games and can still get a maximum of 20 points if it wins its final four games. A loss would leave them at 17 maximum points and they would be eliminated if Uruguay or Venezuela picked up victories in their respective games.
Paraguay has only won two games in qualifying and has lost eight and drawn two. After Bolivia they will face Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia in their final three matches. Meanwhile, Bolivia will take on Peru and Ecuador in their final two games.
Prediction: Neither team really has anything but pride to play for in this match. Expect an open game with a lot of scoring. 3-2 Paraguay.
Start Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
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