Bolivia have not won a match at any of the last five Copa America tournaments and the chaotic events of the last few months have only added to the feeling that they are in line for another early exit.
They had three different managers in charge for their last four matches due to administrative problems and their only match this year was a 5-0 friendly defeat to Argentina on Saturday.
Old favourite Xabier Azkargorta was fired after a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in September, then Mauricio Soria took the reigns on a caretaker basis for a 2-2 draw against Chile in October. Soria was set to be appointed on a permanent basis but then, as coach of Blooming, caused an outcry with comments he made in a private conversation, but which were taped and made public, about the city of Potosi.
Photo gallery 12 players to watch at Copa America
Nestor Clausen took over for a 3-2 win against Venezuela in November, however Soria publicly apologised in Potosi for his comments in December and was re-appointed.
He was due to return in March, only for Bolivia to pull out of a friendly in Nigeria over security fears. The friendly against Argentina was their only preparation for the tournament.
Critics say that, in the World Cup qualifiers, Bolivia are overdependent on the advantage of playing home matches in La Paz at 3,600 metres above sea level.
That appears to be born out by their recent Copa America record. After hosting and reaching the final in 1997, Bolivia have been knocked out in the group stage on the five subsequent occasions with seven defeats and eight draws in 15 games.
Previous appearances at finals 24 (first in 1926)
Best performance Winners, 1963
Fifa ranking 89
Key player Marcelo Martins
Born to a Brazilian father and Bolivian mother, Martins was raised in Brazil, began his professional career there and even played for the Brazilian under-18 team.
Leading scorer in the Libertadores Cup for Cruzeiro with eight goals in 2008, the 27-year-old has enjoyed mixed fortunes at club level, winning national titles in Ukraine and Brazil interspersed with unhappy spells at other clubs.
is career has taken him to Cruzeiro, Gremio and Flamengo in Brazil, plus Shakhtar Donetsk, Werder Bremen and Wigan Atheltic and he is now in China with Changchung Yatai.
He has scored 12 goals for his country, although the last was two years ago.
Coach Mauricio Soria
The 49-year-old is a former goalkeeper who made 23 appearances for his country.
Over the course of his playing and coaching career, he has played pretty much for every club in Bolivia and, unusually, never ventured abroad.
As a coach, has won domestic titles with Real Potosi, Wilstermann and The Strongest.
Soria is another South American coach who has been heavily influenced by former Argentina and Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa and has moved his side away from their traditionally defence-orientated game.
Squad
Goalkeepers Romel Quinonez (Bolivar), Hugo Suarez (Blooming), Jose Penarrieta (Oriente Petrolero)
Defenders Miguel Hurtado (Blooming), Leonel Morales (Blooming), Cristian Coimbra (Blooming), Marvin Bejarano (Oriente Petrolero), Ronald Raldes (Oriente Petrolero), Edemir Rodriguez (Bolivar), Ronald Eguino (Bolivar), Edward Zenteno (Wilstermann)
Midfielders Danny Bejarano (Oriente Petrolero), Walter Veizaga (The Strongest), Alejandro Chumacero (The Strongest), Damir Miranda (Bolivar), Sebastian Gamarra (AC Milan), Damian Lizio (O'Higgins), Martin Smedberg (IFK Gothenburg)
Forwards Alcides Pena (Oriente Petrolero), Pablo Escobar (The Strongest), Jhasmani Campos (Bolivar), Marcelo Martins (Chanchung Yatai), Ricardo Pedriel (Mersin)
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